Agenda and minutes

The Inquiry Panel Chair, Cllr Vaughan, was in attendance but was not well enough to Chair the meeting.  In the absence of the Vice-Chair, Cllr Coombs was elected as Chair for the meeting.

The apologies of Councillor Rayment were noted. Councillor Mitchell was appointed as substitute for the purposes of the meeting.

RESOLVED: that the final meeting of the Inquiry scheduled for 21 April 2022, be rescheduled to 28 April 2022.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2022 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2022 be approved and signed as a correct record.

The Panel considered the report of the Service Director Legal and Business Operations for the fifth meeting of the ‘Accessible Southampton Inquiry’. The Panel considered ‘Accessibility to Public Facilities and Services’ and noted the presentations.

Summary of information provided:

What contributes to good accessibility in public facilities and services from Disabled People’s Viewpoint – Ian Loynes, Chief Executive,Spectrum CIL

·  A presentation was delivered by Ian Loynes, summarising the key issues raised at the Accessible Southampton Focus Group meeting. 

·  Key points raised in the presentation included the following:

o  Services need to be easy to get to and publicised so that the target audience is reached.  Most people do not know what services there are and the Information Directories (eg SID) need to ensure up to date and accurate information is available and is user friendly.

o  Need to have a variety of transport options nearby and is well signposted.

o  Staff training & culture - Ensure properly trained staff that understand needs of Disabled People; Use appropriate language; Staff who listen, don’t patronise or assume that they know best what is needed; Have undertaken Disability Equality Training.

o  Buildings need to be accessible for Disabled People (Best practice guidelines are available)

o  Information provided needs to be in accessible formats

o  Staff need to know what aids are available and how to use them

o  The Council needs to be a learning Council.

Accessible Derby – Ann Webster, Lead on Equality and Diversity at Derby City Council

·  Key points raised by Ann Webster during her presentation:

o  Ann’s role is to act as facilitator and enabler to support all Derby City Council directorates on its equality and diversity journey.

o  Chief Executive has overall leadership of Equality and Diversity along with the Senior Leadership Team.  The Council work to the Equality, Dignity and Respect Policy and have an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan to make it real.

o  Ann receives support from Senior Managers and there is cross party support for equality and diversity – This support is essential.

o  Equality Hubs, Forums and Employee Networks make a huge difference to Derby work and deliver their services – keeps us on our toes!

o  From the early 90’s Derby have adopted the social model of disability rather than the medical model. So, this means that right from the start Derby look at removing barriers for disabled people, promoting inclusion, rather than disabled people having to ‘fit in’ with inaccessible and sometimes hostile environments.

o  The Equality Act and Public Sector Equality Duty are key drivers for equality, diversity and inclusion, but they are only as good as the people who work to these.

o  A key part of the Public Sector Equality Duty is to ‘pay due regard to equality’ and so Derby still complete Equality Impact Assessments for their decisions.

o  Council’s do not police the Equality Act but can use the Public Sector Equality Duty to promote equality and remove discrimination – Derby are proactive  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.