Hampshire County Council Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel Item15 24 March 2004 Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) - Access audits and improvements strategy Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

Contact: Marcos Frangos Ext: 3811 e-mail: [email protected]

How the conclusion in this report fits with the Corporate Strategy This scheme will impact on the delivery of the following Corporate Aims: Aim 1 - maximising life opportunities, by providing disabled people in Hampshire improved access to services and buildings both as customers and employees of the County Council. Aim 3 - achieving economic prosperity, through increased number of (disabled) customers/visitors to the County Council's public buildings. Aim 5 - improving services: the 10-11% of working age population in Hampshire covered by the DDA definition of disabled people will benefit from increased accessibility. Aim 6 - developing councillors and staff, through improvements to physical workplaces, employment and training opportunities.

1	Summary
1.1	Following a request from the last BL&CP meeting on 27 January 2004, this report updates Members on progress with the Access Audits & Improvements Strategy in 2003/04 and discusses implications and timescales for its full implementation.
1.2	The County Council's responsibilities in implementing the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) is attached at Appendix 1.
2.	DDA Access Audits & Improvements Strategy
2.1	Phase 1 - public buildings
	Phase 1 comprises 150 buildings deemed highest priority under Part III DDA. Over 95% of access audits in this phase are complete and good progress has been made on project work in 2003/04 with approximately 50 projects (33% Phase 1) completed. Wherever possible access improvements are dovetailed within larger capital schemes, for example Discovery Centres, or other planned works which maximises cost-effectiveness and keeps disruption to the service at a minimum. See Appendix 2 for project details.
2.2	Timescales and funding for completing Phase 1
	On the basis that the P&R contribution remains at £170,000 pa and that this is matched by cost-sharing contributions, it is intended to include the remaining access improvements into a three-year rolling programme 2004/05 - 2006/07.
3.	Phase 2: Schools
3.1	Schools Access Initiative (SAI) fund is a capital fund allocated to the Education Department from the DfES to improve facilities and access in mainstream schools. The 2003/04 programme amounted to c £1.5m and included works to approximately 50 primary and 12 secondary school projects. SAI will continue for the next 2 financial years with £ 2.1m in 2004/05 and a similar amount in 2005/06 for Hampshire schools.
4.	Phase 3: Part-public buildings
4.1	This phase incorporates buildings where services are only partly open to the public, eg social services family centres or where the County Council is not the direct service provider, eg Community Association. Detailed planning of this phase will take place in 2004/05, and to start the access audits for the 150 buildings in 2005/06. This staggered start allows a further year's focus on improvements to Phase 1.
4.2	Phase 3 funding
	Subject to the necessary funding in place, it is intended to complete access improvements in this phase during a three-year rolling programme from 2006/7 - 2009/10.
5.	Risk of DDA discrimination claims
5.1	A phased approach, common amongst similar sized authorities, will place the County Council at risk to DDA claims after October 2004. The Disability Rights Commission has acknowledged that it will not be supporting discrimination claims against authorities like HCC clearly demonstrating good practice. The County Council's achievements to date and national recognition in this field should provide a strong position when challenged.
5,2	The Panel will also be aware that the recent introduction of DDA legislation, which brings with it reasonable `adjustment' needs to be understood alongside the significant implications of existing and developing health and safety legislation. It will be important as the County Council develops its risk assessments in relation to health and safety that it recognises the implications of DDA and ensures that where there is any doubt about the level of reasonable adjustment that can be made, priority is given to health and safety.
6.	Best Value Indicator No 156 - % accessibility of public buildings
6.1	This PI measures "% of authority buildings open to the public in which all public areas are suitable for and accessible to disabled people." HCC is ranked top authority for this PI with an outturn figure in 2002/3 of 70%. It is anticipated that with the level of activity planned in the next 2 to 3 years this high level of performance will be maintained.
7.	Conclusions
7.1	Phase 1: excellent progress has been made, completing almost all access audits and one third of the way through access improvement projects.
7.2	Phase 2: The LEA has a published 3-year strategy for increased strategic access to mainstream schools. The 2003/04 SAI programme included access improvements to approx 50 primary and 12 secondary schools
7.3	Phase 3: likely to require c 150 access audits starting 2005/06. Access improvements in a 3-year programme up to 2010.

Recommendation
That the Panel advise the Executive Member for Policy and Resources the progress on Phases 1 and 2 of the DDA Access Audits & Improvements Strategy be approved.
Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report. NB the list excludes: 1 Published works 2 Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act ........................ ........................

Appendix 1

1.0 Departmental responsibilities in implementing the DDA

1.1 DDA Part II Employment

All managers are responsible under the DDA for ensuring that their practices do not discriminate against disabled persons in employment. The Equality & Diversity Adviser sets the Corporate framework within the Equalities Strategy. The Equalities Strategic Action Group (ESAG) includes a senior manager from each department, specialist advisers and Union representatives, and is responsible for ensuring that each department fulfils its duties under Part II DDA. They are supported in this by members of the Personnel and Training Department, and the Equality and Diversity Team.

1.2 Hampshire Learning Centre provides a variety of learning opportunities, eg Deaf awareness, DDA awareness. Currently a learning needs analysis is taking place within the County Council with the aim of re-focussing training provision to ensure that departmental needs are met.

1.3 The Welfare To Work, Joint Investment Plan, (Improving Employment Opportunities for Disabled People) is a government initiative which requires county councils to identify steps to improve employment opportunities for disabled people in their locality. This action plan is currently being revised in consultation with partner organisations. The resulting plan will link with Aims 1,3 and 6 of the Corporate Strategy. A key action for the County Council is to take positive steps to recruit more disabled people as employees, and to ensure that if a member of staff becomes disabled whilst at work, they are supported to remain in work.

1.4 Grants are available from Job Centre Plus (the Access To Work scheme) to assist with reasonable adjustments in this process. The County Council works actively with this scheme and has secures significant funds to assist with: automated doors, personal assistants, accessible technology, wheelchairs etc.

1.5 DDA Part III: Access to goods, services and premises

The provision of goods and services to disabled people effects all services provided by the County Council and therefore each department. Property, Business & Regulatory Services and the DDA Access audits & improvements strategy was developed. This provides the framework within which reasonable adjustments are made to buildings to improve fair and equal access to services.

1.6 DDA Part IV: Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Act

This relates to the provision of Education and associated services to disabled pupils. Its implementation is a combined responsibility on the Education Department and all mainstream schools. The County Council's Accessibility Strategy sets strategic objectives for the next three years to achieve a geographic spread of accessible primary and secondary schools between 2003-06:

· complete the programme of providing four "resourced and fully accessible" secondary schools across the county for pupils with physical disabilities

· invest further in its resourced schools, as necessary, and increase the number of accessible secondary schools, particularly where they are almost fully accessible

· provide at least one fully accessible primary (or pair of infant and junior) feeder schools, for each secondary school resourced/accessible for pupils with physical disabilities.

· increase the number and improve the geographical spread of accessible primary (including infant and junior) schools across the county

· give priority to infant and junior schools on shared sites, where one is fully accessible but the other is not

· meet individual pupils' needs as they arise through a contingency fund representing approx 5% of current SAI funding.

Appendix 2

Improvement projects 2003/04

CX: Information Centres	Status	Comments
Basingstoke	Out to quotation	Upgrade accessible WC
Mottisfont Court	Complete	Auto sliding door

PB&R: Register Offices	Status	Comments
Eastleigh Register Office	Out to quotation	accessible WC & entrance improv'ts
Fareham Register Office	Complete	Automatic door opener
Winchester Register Office	Complete	Parking/auto door
Ringwood Register Office	Complete	Internal refurb/accessible WC
Havant Register Office	Complete	Level main entrance
Totton Register Office	Complete	Powered door
Aldershot Register Office	Complete	Enabling works for lunchtime opening

PB&R:Office Accommodation	Status	Comments
Ashburton Ct East/South lifts	Out to quotation	DDA upgrade to car and buttons
Beaconsfield House	On site	Accessible WC upgrade
Clarendon House	Complete	Accessible WC + doors powered
Castle Avenue	Complete	Easing door pressures etc
Castle HQ	Out to quotation	New orientation mapboards
EII Court	Complete	Top deck automatic doors into EII
EII Court North lift	Out to quotation	DDA upgrade to buttons etc
Great Hall	Complete	Wheelchair & emergency call to WC
Havant Education Office	Complete	Car park markings
Jermyns House	Due on site shortly	Make main entrance level
Jermyns House	Due on site shortly	Accessible WC upgrade
Jermyns House	Out to quotation	Powering doors & induction loop

R&H: Libraries	Status	Comments
Alresford Library	Out to quotation	Front entrance door and ramp
Bishops Waltham Library	Complete	Entrance to car park
New Milton Library	Complete	Accessible WC and entrance
Portchester Library	Out to quotation	Exit ramp
Waterlooville Library	Complete	new accessible WC & new fire doors
Hayling Island Library	Feasibility	integrated with library refurb project
Totton Library	Complete	Exit door

R&H: Museums	Status	Comments
Bursledon Windmill	Out to quotation	Lighting upgrade
Eastleigh Museum	Out to quotation	Accessible WC upgrade, exits etc
Flora Twort Gallery	Due on site shortly	Handrails, nosings, WCs
Havant Museum	Complete	Handrails & lighting
Hampshire Records Office	Complete	Powered doors
Hampshire Records Office	90% complete	WCs & stair nosings
Aldershot Military Museum	Complete	Ramps & handrails
Westbury Manor Museum	Complete	Auto door closer
Red House Museum	50% complete	Path surfaces, new accessible WC

R&H: Arts & Countryside	Status	Comments
Ashcroft Arts Centre	Due on site shortly	Ramped exits,
Tower Arts Centre	90% complete	Ramps, exits, stair & platform lift
Forest Arts	70% complete	Accessible WC, exits & entrance
West End Arts Centre	Complete	Handrails, WC improvements
Manor Farm Country Park	Out to quotation	Accessible WC alterations
Royal Victoria Country Park	Specification	Lift refurb project
Royal Victoria Country Park	Out to quotation	Function Room doors
Farley Mount Country Park	Due on site shortly	Accessible WC, parking
Calshott Activity Centre	Due on site shortly	Accessible WC to Sopwith
Hayling Billy Trail	Complete	Bollards to prevent blocked route

Social services	Status	Comments
Basingstoke, Sun Alliance	On site shortly	Automatic doors
Alton SS Area Office	Out to quotation	WC upgrade, loop
Russell House SS Area Office	On site	WC upgrade, powered entrance, h/rail
Trafalgar House SS Area Office	Complete	New ground floor accessible WC
Trafalgar House SS Area Office	On site shortly	upgrade to external ramp & steps
Havant SS Area Office	Complete	Accessible WCs, handrails
Lymington SS Area Office	Complete	New door closers
Corinium House	On site shortly	DDA upgrade to passenger lift
Romsey SS Area office	Complete	Accessible WC
Petersfield SS Area office	Out to quotation	Accessible WC, door width, handrails