Minutes of Main Committee Meeting:
2 October 2002 (MM/M5/02)
Chair:
Jane Wilmot OBE
DPTAC Members:
Sian Baldwin
Peter Barker
Ann Bates
Mike Bruton
Vidur Dindayal
Jean Dunlop
David Finnegan
Jenny Meadows
David Pugh
Carol Thomas
Richard West
Observers:
Will Bee - Disability Rights Commission (DRC)
Ann Frye - Department for Transport (DfT) Mobility & Inclusion Unit
Paula Morgan - Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)
Alan Preston - Department of Regional Development Northern Ireland
Greg Dempster - Mobility and Access Committee Secretariat (MACS)
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)
Harry Wadsworth - Interpreter for Richard West
Paula Donavon - Interpreter for Richard West
Agenda item 1: Welcome, introductions and apologies of absence
Jane Wilmot welcomed DPTAC Members and observers to the NEC, Birmingham. She explained that the change of venue was to enable Members to visit the Expocoach exhibition and attend a seminar by the Department for Transport on wheelchair accessible coaches.
She apologised to members who had experienced problems with the wheelchair accessible accommodation and confirmed that the Secretariat would raise this with the hotel.
Apologies had been received from Jean Ashcroft, Peter Lee, Janet Kirk, Glyn Vernon, Keith Richards, Grahame Lawson, Mike Spearing (Welsh Assembly Government), Damian Sharp (Scottish Executive), Paul Everall (ODPM) and Sue Sharp (DfT).
Action point 1: Secretariat to write to the Novotel about the problems experienced with the wheelchair accessible accommodation.
Agenda item 2: Minutes of the last meeting (7 August 2002)
The minutes of the meeting of 7 August 2002 were agreed without amendment.
The Chair confirmed those minutes would now be placed on the web site.
Action point 2: Secretariat to arrange for the Minutes of the 7 August meeting to be placed on http://www.dptac.gov.uk.
Agenda item 3: Matters arising (01- M5-02)
Members were asked for their comments on the matters arising paper.
(i) Meeting with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
Peter Barker gave an update on developments since a meeting held on the 20 September with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
He explained that a second meeting with RIBA was planned in November (November 4) to help them understand the implications of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The current RIBA position appeared to focus on trying to amend the legislation whereas DPTAC was seeking to assist architects to understand and apply solutions that were accessible.
(ii) SEU Seminar
The Secretariat were waiting for the SEU to get back to them with a date for a meeting planned on the accessibility audits. We understand the report is now due in November or December.
(iii) Fiat Dobolo - accessible taxi
Ann Frye thanked members for their comments on the Fiat Dobolo viewed at the last meeting. These had been passed on to the manufacturer. The trial had proved successful, for although side access was still too steep the overall impression of the vehicle was positive. The Dobolo proved its possible to produce a competitively priced accessible private hire vehicle.
(iv) DPTAC Definition of accessibility
Members debated the inclusion of minimal stress in the DPTAC definition of accessibility. Although some doubts were expressed, due to concerns about stress implying a medical approach and being difficult to quantify in an audit, it was agreed to keep minimal stress in the document. This was because most members felt the inclusion of minimal stress reinforced the need to make places easy to use and understand.
David Finnegan wished his objection to the inclusion of stress to be noted and would write to the Chair on this point.
Agenda item 4: Progress on work programme (paper 02-M5-02)
Members were invited to consider progress in completing the work programme and agreed the priorities for DPTAC and the Secretariat until December. The following specific items in the paper were discussed.
(i) Lead Member's Reports
The original intention was to have written reports from lead Members at this meeting. It had now been agreed to delay this until December enabling Lead Members to report on a complete year and any discussions with stakeholders.
(ii) Consultations
The Chair thanked Members for their comments on the various consultations over the year and stressed the importance of this activity in DPTAC's work.
She advised members that the Secretariat planned to speed up and streamline the consultations they were asked to respond to. They, in discussion with Lead Members, would only issue consultation papers if they thought DPTAC needed to comment. Copies of the consultation papers once this was agreed and before the Secretariat had drafted an initial response.
Any comments received before the initial drafting would be incorporated by the Secretariat. Members will be invited to comment on the secretariat's draft.
Members were asked to make a written response to all consultations even if it is simply a nil return. This would help the Secretariat to ensure the response reflected the views of the whole Committee.
(iii) Advise on development of Disabled Persons Protection Policies (DPPPs)
Because of the delay in operators forwarding their draft Disabled Persons Protection Policies it was taking longer than anticipated to draft responses.
Members were asked to return their comments to the Secretariat by the 11 October. The Secretariat and Ann Bates, Lead Member for rail, would draft a summary response for consideration at a meeting on the 21 October.
(iv) Wheelchair Accessible Coach
Members were reminded that the Mobility Inclusion Unit was holding a seminar that afternoon for the coach industry on wheelchair access. It was hoped to demonstrate the regulations are achievable and gain the industry's support.
(v) Part M of the Building Regulations
The consultation draft was launched on 27 August and will be considered by the Built Environment Group at its meeting on the 23 October. Copies of the draft response will be circulated.
(vi) Ensuring accessibility is integral to the delivery of the 10-year plan
Jane reported that she had a useful meeting with Paul Collins, who is charge of the 10-year plan and transport strategy. It was suggested that Lead Members have further meetings on local transport and rail issues.
The intention was to publish a factual review of the ten-year plan in the next few months.
(vii) Guidance on development briefs
This research on how to procure accessible buildings was nearing completion. A report structure had been agreed and a draft of the guidance would be circulated to Members for quick comments during November.
The Built Environment Group would consider the draft further on 23 October.
Action Point 3: Members to complete comments on all circulated DPPPs by 11 October.
Action Point 4: Secretariat and Lead Member to draft a summary response on DPPPs for consideration on 21 October.
Action Point 5: Lead Members to prepare a report for circulation at the next Main Committee (by 20 November).
Action Point 6: Built environment group to consider the Part M consultation on 23 October.
Action point 7: Members to respond to consultations if only to confirm they do not wish to comment.
Agenda item 5: MIU Report (paper 03-M5-02)
Ann Frye introduced the MIU report and highlighted some specific issues.
(i) Carriage of Assistance Dogs
The Government was supporting Neil Gerrard's Private Members Bill, trying to require Private Hire Vehicles (PHVs) to carry assistance dogs and to do so free of charge. This had completed its progress through the House of Commons. The second reading in the House of Lords is on 11 October.
(ii) Inclusive Mobility
Inclusive Mobility, explaining how Part III of the DDA related to pedestrian environments and passenger infrastructure would be published in the next few weeks. The package had received widespread support. Members would receive a copy.
Action Point 8: Secretariat to circulate copies of 'Inclusive Mobility' once available from MIU.
(iii) Audible and Visual Announcements on Buses
It was reported that the Arriva trial on audible and visual announcements on buses had been successful. A report evaluating the trial will be published shortly. DPTAC members will receive a copy and would wish to consider whether further action was needed.
In addition members were told that Arriva had already made a commercial decision to fit the equipment in all their buses.
Members were advised that Traffic for London would not be using the technology used in the trial but a different system, which would be rolled out from August 2003.
It was agreed that the system used did not matter as long as passengers received the information output.
Action Point 9: MIU to forward the report on audible and visual announcements on buses once available.
(iv) PSV Conduct Regulations
Members were reminded that they had been asked to submit their comments on the PSV Conduct Regulations Guidance by the 3 October.
Action Point 10: Members to comment on the PSV Conduct Regulations guidance by 3 October.
Agenda item 6: Community Engagement (paper 04-M5-02)
Members considered paper 04/M5/02 on engaging the disabled community. The Chair reported that since the last meeting the Secretariat had been proactive in meeting various organisations, including officials in DfT and ODPM , who have an interest in this subject. Laura Smales also attended a workshop organised by the JMU Access Partnership on this subject.
The intention had been to publish a consultation version of the paper later in the year so Members were asked to submit written comments on the draft by the 10 October.
However the Chair also reported that the Local Government Research and Information Agency (LARIA) has just published a report on consultation with disabled people.
The Secretariat had ordered a copy of this report and would review it to ensure DPTAC did not duplicate existing guidance.
Action Point 11: Members to comment on the draft community engagement paper (by 10 October).
Action Point 12: Secretariat to review the LARIA guidance on consulting disabled people and ensure a redraft of the community engagement paper adds value.
Agenda item 7: Future activities
Agenda item 7.1: DPTAC 2003 work programme (05-M5-02)
Members discussed the future work programme (paper 05-M5-02).
The Chair advised Members that since the programme had been published she had had a meeting with Paul Collins. Consequently she recommended that task under theme three should be refocused to measure and monitor accessibility. This will be in line with the intended output of advising on the review of the ten-year plan.
Members were broadly content with the direction of the work programme with a few specific additions, particularly around pedestrian environment issues.
Because of a lack of time, it was agreed that members would forward written comments on the work programme by the 10 October.
The Secretariat would include amendments to the work programme before publishing. Lead Members and the Secretariat would consult stakeholders on the work programme.
Action Point 13: Members to forward any further comments on the work programme to the Secretariat (by 10 October).
Action Point 14: Secretariat to include amendments (including pedestrian environments) to the work programme before publishing for consultation (by 11 October).
Action Point 15: Lead Members and Secretariat to consult stakeholders on the work programme (by 20 November).
Agenda item 7.2: MIU Research Programme 2003/4 (06/M5/02)
Ann Frye apologised for the jargon in the MIU research paper that had been circulated by the Secretariat in error as it was written for an internal audience.
Members were reminded that the purpose of this document was to explain to officials within DfT the work being planned by MIU, which includes research planned by DPTAC.
Members agreed to forward suggestions quickly to the Secretariat on the Department's research projects.
Action Point 16: Members to forward any further research issues for circulation in the Department by 10 October.
Agenda item 7.3: Draft DPTAC Calendar 2003
Members considered a draft calendar for 2003 where the Secretariat had proposed that 30 meetings be arranged over 16 days.
In addition to the six Main Committee meetings dates were included for four built environment (BE) meetings, four education and training (E&T) meetings and six rail exemption application (REA) meetings, spread over the year.
Meetings of the built environment and education and training group meetings would be held on the same day to reducing travelling time and costs.
Rail exemption application meetings are planned every two months with meetings on 'HOLD' for issues that emerge during the year scheduled in the same afternoon.
It was also agreed to hold 'summits' on particular mode issues in the mornings before Main Committee to provide a forum for discussion with industry representatives.
Jane advised members that Members were not expected to attend every meeting.
The Secretariat will confirm the calendar for 2003 and circulate to members.
Action Point 17: Secretariat to confirm the final calendar for 2003 and circulate to Members (by 10 October). (Attachment M2-M5-02).
Agenda item 8: Any other business
Pedestrian Environment Issues (Paper 08/M5/02)
Peter Barker introduced his paper on pedestrian environment issues. He suggested that there should be research on the accessibility of the Home Zones.
Members also expressed concerns that some facilities were not suitable for shared use between pedestrians and cyclists.
It was agreed that the Secretariat would identify which officials they should meet to discuss these concerns and include relevant issues in the work programme.
Action Point 18: Secretariat to contact relevant officials in taking forward the concerns on shared facilities and home zones.
Date of Next Meeting: 2pm on 4 December 2002 in Great Minster House, London.
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