Contact: Lindsey Hawke-Davies - Democratic Services - Ext. 7333

Set out below is the summary of points raised by the Members' and Officers' Disability Discrimination Act Working Group at its meeting on 14 May in a priority order as agreed by the Chairman of the Group, Councillor W H Wheeler. The outcomes were circulated to all members of the County Council for any comments by no later than 15 July. These comments have now been received and are indicated in bold. Also attached is a report of the Access Manager and Equality and Diversity Officer who have provided comments on the outcomes.

Benefits to all disabled people

Induction loop system to be available and usable in all meeting rooms and at main Reception (a portable loop induction system is available for booking in Room 10 Elizabeth II Court). It is important to have other sound enhancement facilities as an induction loop is not universally beneficial to all hearing aid users.

4.1 To hold staff training, including courses on first aid, lifting, manual handling, speaking to a group of hard of hearing people and simple instructions for helping people. Staff should receive appropriate training to enable them to carry out specific tasks, e.g. first aid, lifting, etc.

4.2 To maintain good employment practices to assist with the successful recruitment of disabled people.

4.3 To look into increasing the font size of Committee reports.

4.4 To look at directional signage in terms of floor numbers and listing departments at lift exits to assist people with knowing where they are and where they are going. To provide a disabled route round The Castle. Signs are necessary to help those not familiar with where to go and also showing people to meeting rooms.

4.5 To look into displaying some key signage in Braille: for example in lift cars adjacent to lift buttons. There is some signage in Braille.

4.6 Training on disability issues for staff and members.

2 Access to meetings

4.7 To ensure that when disabled members are attending meetings, either at Hampshire County Council or at other Local Authorities that disabled bays are reserved.

4.8 To hold meetings in convenient and accessible locations. Guidance to be provided to all Committee Chairmen.

4.9 To reserve seats at meetings for those who are hard of hearing.

4.10 To have a mix of seats with and without arms in each meeting room to enable people to sit more comfortably.

4.11 To provide a Notice of What's On at the County Council on the main doors for members of the public and advising that assistance would be given by reception.

4.12 To set aside the bench in the Council Chamber for disabled people attending the meeting.

3 Working links, including the Group's future plans

4.13 To invite a representative from a disability group or organisation to each meeting. It was agreed that a representative from Hampshire Association for the Care of the Blind be invited to the next meeting and a representative from the Hampshire Deaf Association to the Autumn meeting.

4.14 To invite officer representatives from Education, Environment, Social Services and Recreation and Heritage to future meetings so that information can be provided on areas which affect the departments and access to services and sites. The Access Manager to present the Buildings Access Strategy to the Policy Review Committees to advise them of their relevant areas.

4.15 To receive presentations by officers in Property, Business and Regulatory on improvements to buildings which have taken place and benefited people and those projects which are still in the planning stage and could be influenced.

4.16 To work with the Local Government Association which is helping Authorities set up a Strategy to prepare for the implementation of the 2004 Act.

4.17 Share best practice with other authorities, e.g. District Councils.

4.18 To work with Access Groups across the County.

4.19 Jane Goodwin, the Equality and Diversity Officer, agreed to provide a summary of the Access requirement survey that identified the needs of members.

Influence on Design

4.1 To use opportunities to speak to other Local Authorities to influence planning applications; wider doorways to accommodate wheelchairs and sufficient space for stair lifts.

4.2 To look at Integrated transport issues for fully and partially disabled people.

4.3 To seek to influence transport issues.

4.4 To look into access on and off buses with particular attention to the height of the step.

Information

4.1 To provide regular reports on the numbers of disabled employed by Hampshire County Council.

4.2 To include an article in Spotlight (via Jane Goodwin) inviting staff feedback on ideas for improving disabled access.

4.3 To look at more effective ways of communicating and asking the communications team to spread the news to members of the public and circulating a staff bulletin so that awareness is up to date. To also provide information when improvements are made.

4.4 To display a notice at the bottom of the County Council's pages to advise that information is available in the telephone book.

RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Executive Member for Policy and Resources be asked to agree:

That the outcomes raised by the Members' and Officers' Disability Discrimination Act Working Group meeting on 14 May be approved in the priority order as amended. A copy of the outcomes was circulated to all Members of the County Council asking for any comments by no later than 15 July. The comments have now been received and are indicated in bold.

5RR50603