Havant Borough Council Disability Access
Group
AGENDA
Thursday 15 May 2008, 2pm in
Committee Room 1 (First floor)
1.
Apologies
2.
Minutes of last meeting
3.
Discussion on Assessing Planning
Applications
4.
Matters Arising – Emergency Safety
5. HBCDAG
Action Plan Update
6. HBC
Environmental Quality Team
7. Date
of next meeting
If you have any special requirements
please contact Caren Ransom 02392 446007 caren.ransom@havant.gov.uk
Access Group Meeting
Minutes
15 May 2008
If you require this in large print or
alternative format please contact Caren Ransom on
023 9244 6007 or caren.ransom@havant.gov.uk
1.
Present/Apologies
Apologies:
|
Chris Pylee
|
HBC Access Group
|
|
Frank Stanley
|
HBC Access Group
|
|
Jeff Crate
|
HBC
|
|
Sue Spencer
|
HCCS
|
Present:
|
Councillor Terry Hart
|
HBC
|
|
Caren Ransom
|
HBC Equalities and Access Officer
|
|
Chris Lyons
|
HBC Development Services Manager
|
|
Gary Morton
|
HBC Environmental Quality Team Leader
|
|
Stuart Pinkney
|
HBC Emergency Safety Officer
|
|
Peter Hammond
|
HBC Business Development Officer
|
|
Paula Eastwood
|
Job Centre Plus
|
|
Richard Sturgess
|
Gosport, Fareham Access Officer
|
|
Gwyneth Fyfield
|
HBC Access Group
|
|
Judith Glenister
|
HBC Access Group
|
|
Masie Tucker
|
HBC Access Group
|
|
Val Stanley
|
HBC Access Group
|
|
Fred Dunford
|
HBC Access Group
|
|
Anthony Le May
|
HBC Access Group
|
|
Marian Le May
|
HBC Access Group
|
| Jason Beasley |
HBC Access Group |
|
Alicia Samuel
|
HBC
|
|
Jackie Taylor
|
HBC
|
2. Minutes of
last meeting
Agreed as a correct record.
3. Discussion on
Assessing Planning Applications
Talk and general discussion on planning
applications form Chris Lyons, Development Services Manager, (in
charge of development control and land charges).
Richard Sturgess re-iterated the point that
the Access Statement is still not up to standard.
Chris Lyons welcomed the group to view, pass
comments and advise on any particular application. The
selection process of the applications shown to the group was
discussed. Chris pointed out his department receive 120-130
applications per month. Caren Ransom explained that the application
process has changed since the group used to review them. The
process has become more generic, with not just one officer
(trained) and dealing with a particular application. Chris
expressed the difficulty in selecting a few plans for the group to
look at out of the amount they receive but would look into it.
Councillor Hart mentioned that within the
Access statement agreement constitution that there would be a
planning officer to attend the drop in groups fortnightly meeting.
He suggested that it would be better if they attended during an
allotted time for general discussions, allowing the group to view
applications and comment.
4. Matters Arising –
Emergency Safety
Stuart Pinkney discussed emergency safety with
the group. He informed the group that a Fire Risk Assessment is due
in July and within group meetings he would like them to discuss and
agree on the procedure of evacuation. At the moment its stands
as:
· Only
external stairwells must be used
· Meeting
point is at the front of the building
Please note that an electric wheelchair is
available, it is directly across from Committee room 1, (stairwell
number 3). This is for those with mobility problems. There is no
need to make HBC staff aware of wheel chair users or those
with poor mobility as there is enough “manpower” to deal with this
if an evacuation is necessary. The stairwells are protected for
between 45mins to 1 hour so it should not be an issue.
Stuart also mentioned that there are two Evac
Chairs available within the vicinity and that there is the
possibility that more will be purchased in the near future. The
group suggested “Ski Pads” instead of Evac Chairs, which are
apparently used as hospital aids. The group felt that they were:
easy with little strain, quick, cheaper and less frightening.
Stuart will look into this option.
Stuart also informed the group that they may
not hear the fire alarm at its usual allotted time of Monday 10.00
am. This is because it is being tested at different times, to
ensure that everyone that uses the building on different days and
at various times of the day will be aware of what the alarm sounds
like. A practice fire drill is usually done 2-3 times a year at
different times as well.
5. HBCDAG Action Plan
Update
There is a link on the Havant Borough Council
Access Group Web page for the monthly updated Action Plan,
http://www.havant.gov.uk/havant-3557.
Caren went through the plan with the group and Cllr Hart thanked
the group for all their hard work so far and explained that having
the Action Plan gave the Group a benchmark for the work they
undertake throughout the year.
Caren informed the group that in the summer
addition of Serving You there will be an article on the science
fair, (the addition is also available in braille).
The updating of the Access pages on HBC
website is taking place. Alicia has been helping Caren with this
and the group should see substantial changes next week.
Jeff Crate was being represented by Peter
Hammond to discuss an accessibility guide that links with the
tourism side of Havant. Peter mentioned that he did something
similar whilst he worked at Portsmouth City Council. He advised
that a web version would be most suitable. This is due to a print
version getting dated very quickly and updated versions would take
longer to be made available. Caren agreed the medium is very
important to the success of the guide. Peter also highlighted the
issue of annual cost. This will need to be taken into account if a
hard copy is published in a glossy magazine format. Sponsorship may
need to be considered. Caren stated that there will be two
pages in the Havant leisure guide made available.
Councillor Hart took this opportunity to
praise the group on the good work they have done on getting a
constitution and action plan up and running. It shows live actions,
performance indicators, what has to be been done and what needs to
be done. Councillor Hart thanked the group for this.
6. HBC Environmental
Quality Team
Gary Morton delivered a presentation to the
Access group on the environmental quality team at Havant Borough
Council. The team consists of 5 staff members, 3 full-time Rangers
and one ranger paid for by Portsmouth City Council. The three
full-time rangers have different wards/areas to look after.
Gary Morton discussed:
· The
differences between Criminal and Civil Law
·
Environmental Law
·
Abandoned Vehicles
· Bins,
(street litter, parks and dog waste)
·
Fly-tipping
·
Graffiti
· Gypsies
and Travellers
· Litter
and Dog Fouling
·
Partnership Working (e.g. with probation services)
· The
Future (visibility, The Cleaner Borough Initiative, volunteers)
7. Date of Next Access Group Meetings:
7 August 2008 – 2pm
27 November 2008 – 2pm
12 February 2009 – 2pm
21 May 2009 – 2pm