Minutes of Main Committee Meeting:
8 August 2002 (MM/M4/02)
Chair:
Jane Wilmot OBE
DPTAC Members:
Sian Baldwin
Peter Barker
Ann Bates
Vidur Dindayal
Jean Dunlop
Cllr Janet Kirk
Peter Lee
Grahame Lawson
Jenny Meadows
Tom Pey
David Pugh
Keith Richards
Carol Thomas
Richard West
Observers:
Will Bee - Disability Rights Commission (DRC)
Greg Dempster - Mobility and Access Committee Secretariat (MACS)
Ann Frye - Department for Transport (DfT) Mobility & Inclusion Unit
David Petherick - Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), Building Regulations Division
Alan Preston - Department of Regional Development Northern Ireland
Sue Sharp - DfT Mobility & Inclusion Unit
Nawaz Tariq - ODPM Building Regulations Division
Janet Tublin - DfT Mobility & Inclusion Unit
In Attendance:
Tim Pope - DPTAC Secretary
Sandra Duncan - DPTAC Secretariat
Ffion Grant - DPTAC Secretariat
Gary Kemp - DPTAC Secretariat
Harriet Samuels - DPTAC Secretariat
Laura Smales - DPTAC Secretariat (work placement)
Victoria Davies - Palantypist for Jane Wilmot
Andrew Green - Interpreter for Richard West
Harry Wadsworth - Interpreter for Richard West
Agenda item 1: Welcome, introductions and apologies of absence
1. Jane Wilmot welcomed DPTAC members and observers to the meeting. She specifically welcomed Greg Dempster from the Mobility and Access Committee in Scotland (MACS) and Laura Smales, who is on a summer placement with the Secretariat until early September, to their first meeting.
2. Apologies had been received from Jean Ashcroft, Mike Bruton, David Finnegan, Alan Hartley, Peter Lee, Glyn Vernon, Mike Spearing (Welsh Assembly Government), Damian Sharp (Scottish Executive) and Paul Everall (ODPM).
Agenda item 2: Minutes of the last meeting (12 June 2002)
3. The minutes of the meeting of 12 June 2002 were agreed without amendment.
4. The Chair confirmed these minutes would now be placed on the web site.
Action Point 1: Secretariat to arrange for the Minutes of the 13 June meeting to be placed on http://www.dptac.gov.uk.
Agenda item 3: Matters arising (01/M4/02)
5. Members were asked for their comments on the Matters arising paper.
(i) Meeting with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
6. Vidur Dindayal reported on a meeting held on 31 July with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
7. He explained that the meeting had been arranged to help raise the RIBA's understanding and awareness of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and to discuss how they could become actively involved in assisting their membership to create inclusive environments. ODPM and DRC were also present at the meeting.
8. Peter Barker (Built Environment Lead Member) suggested he and Vidur met with the Secretariat to agree how to further develop the relationship with RIBA. Keith Richards suggested this might consider the possible role of the Architects Registration Board, of which he was a member.
Action Point 2: Peter Barker to meet with the Secretariat and Members to discuss furthering the relationship with RIBA, including the possible role of the Architects Registration Board.
(ii) Meeting with the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS)
9. The Chair reported on a successful meeting with MACS, where lines of communication and areas of co-operation were agreed. Jean Dunlop is a member of both Committees.
(iii) Social Exclusion Unit (SEU) interim report
10. The Secretariat reported on a useful meeting with the SEU clarifying issues arising from their interim report. DPTAC will be invited to a seminar on accessibility audits. The SEU also agreed to send a draft of the final report to DPTAC for comment before publication.
Action point 3: Secretariat to seek to ensure DPTAC is involved in the SEU seminar on accessibility audits.
(iv) Rural Paper
11. The Secretariat would ensure the rural summary was published and seek comments from organisations to feed into the development of the future work programme.
Action Point 4: Secretariat to publish the rural summary and seek comments to feed into the development of the future work programme.
(v) Yellow Buses
12. The Secretariat reported that the research contract for evaluating the yellow bus trials had been let. DPTAC would be represented on the Steering Group monitoring the trial.
Agenda item 4: Progress on work programme (02/M4/03)
13. Jane Wilmot reported the steady progress on completion of work in the programme and Members agreed the priorities for DPTAC and the Secretariat until October and discussed some specific issues in the paper.
(i) Accessible Coach Trial - London-Heathrow-Bath
14. Members using wheelchairs were encouraged to undertake a journey on the accessible coach trial and feed back upon their experiences.
Action Point 5: Members were encouraged to undertake journeys and provide comments on the wheelchair accessible coach running between London and Bath.
(ii) Public Service Vehicle Exemptions and bus issues
15. Members were invited to volunteer to join a group considering bus issues, including contentious PSV exemptions. This group would operate mainly by correspondence as only contentious PSV exemptions, of which there would be few, would need to be considered.
Action Point 6: Members to volunteer to join a group considering bus issues, including contentious PSV exemptions.
(iii) Disabled Persons Protection Policies (DPPP's)
16. Ann Bates explained that the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) would soon be submitting copies of the draft DPPP's from train operators. DPTAC are required to check each policy against the SRA Guidance on DPPPs.
17. Members were invited to volunteer to join a task group to carry out the work but were warned this would be time consuming with tight schedules for completion.
Action Point 7: Members to volunteer for a task group to report on draft Disabled Persons Protection Policies (DPPPs).
18. It was agreed Lead Members would produce a short report on their areas of responsibility for the next meeting following discussion with the Secretariat. The Secretariat would provide guidance on the format.
Action Point 8: The Secretariat to provide guidance for Lead Members on completing a note on the work programme for next Main Committee.
Action Point 9: Lead Members to discuss future work programme with the Secretariat and key stakeholders.
(iv) DRC meeting with Minister for Transport
19. Will Bee reported on a meeting between the Disability Rights Commission and the Minister for Transport, which covered their concerns in relation to transport. DRC were extremely disappointed that it was not intended to include in the Queen's Speech legislation in relation to disability. This would have enabled the Government to address the Disability Task Force recommendations on various issues for which primary legislation is needed, including many relating to transport. The Chair of the DRC would be meeting the Prime Minister to seek to address this concern.
4.1 MIU Report
(i) Departmental structure
20. Ann Frye explained that following restructuring in the Department for Transport (DfT), the Mobility and Inclusion Unit (MIU) would be part of the Directorate for Strategy, Finance and Delivery.
21. MIU would now be responsible for diversity policy (including race, gender, disability) across the Department. It would not be responsible for diversity in relation to human resources. This was welcomed by Members as an opportunity to improve the consideration of diversity issues, including those of disabled people, in policy making.
(ii) Disability Rights Task Force (DRTF)
22. Following clearance across Whitehall and with the devolved administrations, DfT would be consulting on taking forward the DRTF transport recommendations. Consultation would be in two parts, the first covering the lifting of the Part III exemptions and car and breakdown services and the second on the related rail recommendations. Both consultations are likely in early autumn.
(iii) Air Access Code
23. It was agreed that MIU and DPTAC would need to co-ordinate the launch of the DfT Aviation Code of Practice on Air Travel with DPTAC guidance to disabled air passengers.
Action point 10: MIU and DPTAC to co-ordinate launch of the aviation DfT Code of Practice and DPTAC Guidance.
(iv) PSV Conduct Regulations
24. The MIU would be issuing guidance on the PSV conduct regulations to the bus industry. DPTAC would be invited to comment on the draft guidance.
Action point 11: MIU to consult DPTAC on draft guidance on PSV guidance.
4.2 Engaging disabled people
25. Laura Smales had joined the Secretariat on a summer work placement. She had been tasked with developing a paper on providing a good practice guide on engaging disabled people that helped organisations to reach out and involve them in developing proposals by providing examples of good practice.
26. Members agreed to meet on 20 August to discuss the issues of community engagement further and send comments to the Secretariat.
27. Carol Thomas invited Laura to attend a two day residential course at Swansea University that is being held for Local Authority Access Officers to develop consultation policies for disabled people.
Action point 12: Members to volunteer for a meeting on 20 August to discuss engaging disabled people.
4.3 Communication Strategy
28. Members were asked to consider the revised Communication strategy paper (05-M4-02) and were reminded that all advisory committees are encouraged to have a policy on which documents are to be published. The aim is to help DPTAC inform others of its work in transport and the built environment, encouraging comments on relevant issues.
29. The communication strategy was agreed. The Secretariat would place the document on the DPTAC web site.
Action point 13: Secretariat to place DPTAC communication Strategy on http://www.dptac.gov.uk.
4.4 Definition of accessibility
30. The Chair reminded members that the aim of the definition of accessibility paper was to help engage a wider audience in considering access for disabled people, inclusive transport systems and environments.
31. It aims to provide a simple summary of some of the underlying principles for inclusive environments.
32. Members agreed the definition with the following additions:
a) Emphasising the need for minimal "stress" as well as physical effort.
b) Amending the final principle to read 'Achieving accessibility for disabled people is the responsibility of the provider'.
33. Members will consider benchmarks by which progress can be monitored in future meetings, including the Education and Training Group meeting on 11 September.
Action point 14: Secretariat to include minor amendments to the definition of access and place on http://www.dptac.gov.uk.
Action point 15: Education and Training Group to consider benchmarking issue on 11 September.
Agenda item 5: DPTAC 2003 work programme (07-M4-02)
34. The Chair explained that members had previously indicated that the Committee workload exceeded their expectations and it was sometimes difficult to comment on all subjects.
35. Members discussed how they wished to operate in order to agree a framework for DPTAC's future work programme but reached no consensus about the best working methods.
36. Members agreed the following general principles, in that DPTAC should be:
- pro-active in promoting accessibility;
- direct and inform the disability agenda by engaging with industry and Central/Local Government;
- encourage the educators within transport and built environment professions (architects, designers, engineers etc) to include accessibility as an integral part of all course curriculum;
- monitor all consultations received, responding only to those relevant to the DPTAC agenda;
- every Member should have the opportunity to comment on any particular consultation but not be expected to respond to all. The Secretariat would use the expressions of interest to prompt responses if they would expect a Member to comment;
- concentrate on fewer tasks (six or seven) in addition to the statutory functions to leave enough capacity to respond to emerging issues.
37. During an earlier presentation by MIND, Members agreed to consider addressing mental health and concessionary fares in the future work programme.
38. Members were requested to put forward initial proposals for research for DPTAC and for Government. It was agreed that DPTAC's priority was to research the effectiveness and implementation of the guidance on "the design of large passenger ships and passenger infrastructure: meeting the needs of disabled people", which DPTAC published in November 2000.
Action point 16: Members to consider addressing mental health and concessionary fares in the future work programme.
Action point 17: Secretariat to prioritise the research on guidance on large passenger ships and infrastructure in DPTAC proposals for 2003/4.
Action point 18: Members to submit comments on the work programme and ideas for research by 7 September.
Agenda item 6: DRC Legislative Review & Policy Statements (08-M4-02)
39. Members agreed the draft response to the DRC legislative review subject to detailed comments to the Secretariat by 14 August.
40. Will Bee introduced the DRC policy statements (09-M4-02) on transport, built environment and access to goods and services.
41. He explained that the DRC Policy Statements were principally internal documents advising staff on the guiding principles agreed by DRC. Stakeholders had be given the opportunity to comment on the policy statement but it was not the intention to subject the drafts to full consultation.
42. Members were requested to submit any further comments on the DRC Policy Statements to the Secretariat by 16 August.
Action point 19: Members to forward comments to the Secretariat on the draft response to the DRC's legislative review by 14 August.
Action Point 20: Members to forward comments on the DRC Policy Statements to the Secretariat by 14 August.
Action Point 21: Secretariat to issue final responses on the DRC Legislative Review and Policy Statements by 16 August.
Agenda item 7: Any other business
Single Equalities Commission (10-M4-02)
43. Members had requested DPTAC develop a position on the proposal for a Single Equalities Commission. Members discussed whether to adopt DRC's initial approach to the proposal for a Single Equality Commission but keep the position under review.
44. This position suggests that before establishing one body to cover all equality issues, the Government should fulfil its Manifesto commitment to introduce new disability legislation as recommended by the Disability Rights Task Force and introduce a Single Equalities Act to ensure consistent standards of protection against discrimination.
45. Members agreed the thrust of the DRC approach but suggested supporting it with reasons in relation to transport and the built environment. Members were asked to forward detailed comments to the Secretariat by 7 September.
Action Point 21: Members to forward comments on the Single Equality Commission to the Secretariat by 7 September.
Fiat Doblo Taxi demonstration
46. Before the meeting, Members had the opportunity to view and comment on the Fiat Doblo. This was a new vehicle manufactured by Fiat, which they hoped to market as an accessible Taxi. Members were asked to submit any comments on the accessibility of the vehicle to MIU.
Action Point 22: Members to provide feedback to MIU (or via the Secretariat) on the Fiat Doblo taxi by 7 September.
Date of Next Meeting: 11am 2 October 2002 in Birmingham NEC.
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