Extract from Havant Disability Access Group Minutes of a
meeting dated 22nd Nov 2007
4. Disability Equality Scheme –
Annual Review
4.1 Overview
Disability Discrimination Act 2005 has built
on Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and now places a Disability
Equality Duty on all public authorities (came into effect late
2006)
The Duty reflects the social model of
disability (ie society that disables a person) and applies it to
all functions of public authorities – it does this by recognising
the negative impact on disabled people of a society designed for
non disabled people.
The General Duty requires us to adopt a
proactive approach, mainstreaming disability equality into all
decisions and activities and we must basically have due regard to
the need to:
- Promote equality of opportunity between disabled persons and
other persons
- Eliminate discrimination that is unlawful under the DDA
- Eliminate harassment of disabled persons that is related to
their disability
- Promote positive attitudes towards disabled persons
- Encourage participation by disabled persons in public life;
and
- Take steps to meet disabled persons needs, even if this
requires more favourable treatment
4.2 What has HBC done?
We have 3 schemes now in place with an
overarching Equality Policy (Race Equality Scheme, Disability
Equality Scheme, Gender Equality Scheme)
There is a large action plan that reflects all
6 equality strands (age, disability, gender, Race, religion/belief
and sexual orientation) with targets that cross all of our
services.
This year we have also carried out 24 equality
impact assessments (EIA’s) that will feed into
next year’s corporate action plan – again this has looked at all 6
equality strands
We have included alternative format
information in “Serving You” our community magazine
Draft Hate Crime Policy
Updating the name and terms of reference for
the Access Group
Engaged with the Access Group regarding
disabled parking at the Civic
Empowered Access Group members to organise
events for the group, involving other community groups and social
physical activities
Access Group member writing an article for the
next community magazine about using a mobility scooter – raising
the profile
4.3 EIA’s have
identified across service areas that adaptations have been made to
assist disabled residents, such as:
4.3.1 Waste
Services: Clinical
waste, bulky waste, missed bins and assisted collections,
4.3.2 Customer
services: alternative
formats, Hearing Loops in public rooms, accessible reception,
assistance with form filling, interview rooms for those with
sensitive needs, 24-hour access to emergency contacts and a
voicemail service for non-emergency out of hours calls
4.3.3 A 24 hour website
providing information, links to various services and enabling
customers to report problems on-line.
4.3.4
Articles in the Council’s quarterly magazine, ‘Serving You’, on how
to contact the Council
4.3.5
Advice provided to customers with disabilities, such as how to
apply for assisted refuse collections
4.3.6
Enhancement to the Concessionary Travel service for the registered
blind to allow them to travel on local buses at any time
4.3.7
Call and Go bus service for disabled customers who have
difficulties using the normal bus service
4.3.8
Training session on managing enquiries from customers with learning
difficulties delivered to all staff within the Customer Service
Centre
4.3.9
Regular meetings with all the services that the Council provide a
front-line service for to identify improvements to the delivery of
these services
4.3.10 Annual customer exit
survey undertaken in Quarter 3 each year
4.3.11 Parking
Service:Survey of
Users said 35% of blue badge holders though that provisions were
better in council operated car parks and 17% thought they were
better in private car parks
4.4 Future
Actions:
Review 2 ticks scheme (positive about disabled
employees)
Hate Crime/Harassment reporting to be
approved
Review Access Group Web pages on HBC
website
Explore initiating a disabled staff forum/
involvement with the Access Group
Wider participation within the access group
and linking up to other initiatives such as the newly formed Havant
Diversity Initiative
Customer
services:
4.4.1 To
assess and meet changing customer demand for information and
services to be available outside the Civic Offices such as having
service points within libraries in the borough and at
Beachlands. Target date – 31/3/08
4.4.2 To
provide equalities training to all members of staff and this to be
included as part of the induction programme for new starters.
Target date – 31/03/08
4.4.3 To
review the customer satisfaction surveys to gain a better
understanding of whether or not the Council is meeting customer
needs in being able to access Council
4.4.4 Parking
Service:
Need to assess location of disabled bays in
car parks