Minutes of Main Committee Meeting:
6 October 2004 (Golden Tulip Hotel, Manchester)
Chair:
Neil Betteridge
DPTAC Members:
Pravinkant Amin
Peter Barker
Josie Clairmont
Vidur Dindayal
Jean Dunlop
David Finnegan
Julie Giles
Roy Hayter
Roger Hewitt
David Pugh
Grahame Lawson
Jenny Meadows
Tom Pey
Keith Richards
Laura Smales
Kate Smyth
Carol Thomas
Richard West
Observers:
Sue Sharp - Department for Transport Mobility & Inclusion Unit
Will Bee - Disability Rights Commission
Kyle Crutchley - Northern Ireland Department for Regional Development
John Stirling - Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland
Ann Lyon - Scottish Executive
Barbara Vincent - Department for Work and Pensions
In Attendance:
Andy Kirby - Secretary
Sandra Duncan - Secretariat
Ffion Grant - Secretariat
Gary Kemp - Secretariat
Harriet Samuels - Secretariat
Verona Wiltshire - Secretariat
Andrew Green - British Sign Language Interpreter
Lucy Buckley - British Sign Language Interpreter
Agenda item 1: Welcome, introductions and apologies
1. Neil Betteridge welcomed DPTAC Members and observers to the first DPTAC Main Committee meeting held outside London since 2002.
2. Members noted apologies from Sian Baldwin, Ann Bates, Grahame Lawson and David Petherick (ODPM).
Agenda item 2: Minutes of the last meeting (2nd June 2004)
3. The minutes were agreed subject to the following amendments.
(i) Remove Jenny Meadows from the list of attendees and add her to those giving apologies.
(ii) Add Julie Giles to the list of attendees.
(iii) Under Action Point 7 Audio-visual information on buses add "Ann Frye agreed to report progress on the provision of audio and visual announcements on buses in each Mobility & Inclusion Unit report to Main Committee".
Action Point 1: Secretariat to arrange for the Minutes of 2 June to be amended and placed on the DPTAC website.
Agenda item 3: Matters arising
4. Members discussed several items in the Matters Arising paper.
e-DPTAC training
5. It was noted that some Members had not received training in using the e-DPTAC website. The Secretary explained that arrangements would be made for those Members still requiring training to receive one-to-one training. The Secretariat will contact Members to arrange training sessions shortly.
Action Point 2: Secretariat to contact Members to arrange one-to-one training for e-DPTAC.
Agenda item 4: DPTAC competencies
6. Neil Betteridge explained that Members had been asked to agree the competences and assessment framework for DPTAC Members, Working Group Chairs and the Chair of DPTAC. This set of qualities and skills for Members would be used to assess applicants for appointment to the Committee and for appraisal and development of its existing and new Members.
7. The frameworks were developed in consultation with the Mobility and Inclusion Unit of the DfT, with reference to frameworks used by other government departments, advisory bodies and other organisations. Once agreed, they would be placed on the DPTAC website and included in the Members' Handbook. Some Members who are seeking reappointment to DPTAC Members had trialed the self-assessment and found it useful.
8. Members asked when the assessments would be used and how they would help identify any shortage of particular skills amongst members.
9. Neil pointed out that the competencies were formulated to support DPTAC members and that their effectiveness would be reviewed over time.
10. Sue Sharp confirmed that the framework of competencies would be included in the information packs for future recruitment of DPTAC Members to inform prospective candidates what would be expected of them in their role as a DPTAC Member.
11. Carol Thomas asked for reference to the built environment to be included alongside transport issues in the framework for Members and Working Group Chair competencies. This was agreed.
12. Members agreed the Member competences and assessment Frameworks and the Secretariat would arrange for them to be included in the next update of the Members Handbook.
Action point 3: Secretariat to add reference to the Built Environment in the competency framework for Members and Working Group Chairs.
Action point 4: Secretariat to place the Member competencies and assessment frameworks on the website and in the next Members' Handbook.
Action point 5: Mobility & Inclusion Unit to arrange for future advertisements for DPTAC membership to include reference to the competence framework.
Agenda item 5: Calendar of main Committee and working group meetings for 2005-2006
13. Members were asked to consider and agree the calendar dates for DPTAC Main Committee and working group meetings for 2005-2006.
14. The calendar of meeting dates was agreed subject to changing the June Main Committee date currently scheduled for the week of the Spring Bank Holiday.
Action point 6: Secretariat to amend the date for the June 2005 Main Committee and circulate the calendar to Members and Observers of Main Committee and each working group.
Agenda item 6: Concordat between DPTAC and the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS)
15. Neil explained that DPTAC and MACS were both statutory bodies, committed to bringing about an end to the discrimination that disabled people faced in respect of transport services and in the built environment. The objective of the concordat was to promote clear communications and effective working relationships between the two committees. Where there was an overlap in activities, the concordat should ensure that the work of both organisations complemented each other.
16. Members were asked to consider and adopt the concordat to establish the respective roles of DPTAC and MACS.
17. John Stirling informed Members that MACS had endorsed and agreed the concordat at their last meeting.
18. Members agreed to adopt the concordat and the Secretariat would arrange for a copy to be placed on the DPTAC website.
Action point 7: Secretariat to arrange for the concordat between DPTAC and MACS to be placed on the DPTAC website.
Agenda item 7: Working Group Chairs' meeting Terms of Reference
19. At the DPTAC main meeting in June members decided to reinstate the Working Group Chairs meeting to be held before every Main Committee meeting. Neil explained that this would give the opportunity for members to know the current work of each working group and for the Working Group Chairs to share issues of common interest.
20. Members agreed the Terms of Reference for the Working Group Chairs meetings subject to an amendment in paragraph 4 changing the word 'bodies' to 'body'.
Action point 8: Secretariat to amend the Terms of Reference for Working Group Chairs at paragraph 4 changing the word 'bodies' to 'body'.
Agenda item 8: Oral report on evening meeting with local disability groups in Manchester
21. Representatives from nine local disability groups had met with DPTAC members to discuss local and national issues. The groups had been asked to focus discussions on buses, trains and trams, motoring experiences and any other issues they wanted to raise regarding transport and the built environment.
22. Neil commented that the informal layout of the meeting room with members and the groups divided between individual round tables had allowed the opportunity for open and vibrant discussion on a range of issues. The feedback from those attending was positive and Members agreed to consider holding similar meetings in different locations in the UK.
23. Members endorsed the suggestion for the local groups' evaluation of the event and the Secretariat would arrange for evaluation forms to be sent to all those who attended. A note of the evening event would also be circulated to Members with the minutes of the meeting.
Action point 9: Secretariat to arrange for evaluation forms to be sent to the local groups attending the evening meeting.
Action point 10: Secretariat to circulate a note of the evening meeting to Members.
Action point 11: Secretariat to consider the feasibility of future meetings with local groups and holding some Main Committee meetings at different locations throughout the UK.
Agenda item 9: Visual and audible announcements on buses
24. Sue Sharp reported that although the initial feedback on the Wakefield user trials for visual and audible announcements on buses had been positive, the industry had reported that the system used had been less popular with drivers. The Mobility & Inclusion Unit had arranged further investigative discussions with drivers and a report was expected shortly. A paper on the findings and the way forward would then be submitted for agreement with Department for Transport officials and Ministers.
25. DPTAC Members acknowledged the Mobility & Inclusion Unit 's commitment but pointed out the growing concerns amongst disability organisations, especially those representing blind and partially sighted people, about the Government's failure to implement legislation and guidance to ensure visual and audible announcements on buses.
26. DPTAC would write to the Secretary of State for Transport setting out the issues and reiterating the importance of providing bus services that are accessible to all disabled people including people with sensory impairments.
Action point 12: DPTAC Chair to write to the Secretary of State for Transport expressing disappointment about the amount of time the Government was taking to ensure that new buses are made accessible to people with sensory impairments, and to seek assurances that the Government remains committed to service improvements in this area.
Agenda item 10: Mobility and Inclusion Unit Report
Disability Discrimination Bill
27. Sue Sharp reported that all the clauses in the Disability Discrimination Bill relating to transport and blue badge issues had been prepared and the Bill would be formally introduced into Parliament shortly.
28. Will Bee talked about the drafting of the Transport code and reported that the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) had appointed a small team of consultants to help analyse the policy issues to be covered in the code.
29. In October and November the DRC would be talking to transport providers and organisations representing disabled people about the issues that fell within the scope of the Code. They would identify the sort of reasonable adjustments that could be expected under the DDA once it was extended to cover transport, and the sort of practice that might be considered to be a breach of the Act.
30. Will Bee reiterated that issues currently covered by Part III, infrastructure of stations, airports, ports, access to information about timetables and the use of automated ticket machines would not be covered in the new Code. The DRC was aiming to consult on the code next spring and Will confirmed that, while the alternative formats for supporting guidance could include an "easy read" version, this would not be the case for the Code in view of its legal status.
Community Transport
31. The Mobility & Inclusion Unit had commissioned research to look at the role of community transport in reducing social exclusion. DPTAC was a member of the Advisory Group and Members would be asked to assist in the dissemination of the report.
Agenda item 11: Progress Report on 2004-2005 Work Programme
Work Tasks
32. Neil Betteridge reported that all but two of the Committee's 33 key work tasks had been started.
Meeting with ODPM ministers
33. One of the priorities for the next two months would be to press ODPM for a meeting with Ministers to establish future work on built environment issues.
Action point 13: Chair to write to ODPM Ministers to express disappointment in the delays in establishing future work and funding for built environment issues.
Agenda item 12: The DPTAC 2005-2007 Strategy
34. Neil Betteridge reported that at the June meeting DPTAC had reviewed its strategy to shape the way forward for the future and Members were now invited to discuss the draft strategy paper so that, subject to any changes, it could be circulated among DPTAC's wider group of consultees.
35. Members commented that DPTAC should:
- Measure its achievement by key performance indicators
- Identify and analyse what made the Committee successful
- Identify DPTAC's expectations of its Members
- Explore disabled people's expectations of DPTAC
36. Members were requested to forward any further comments to the Secretariat by 15 October. The Secretariat would finalise the draft strategy paper and arrange consultation on it.
Action point 14: Members to forward comments on the draft strategy to the Secretariat by 15 October.
Action point 15: Secretariat to finalise DPTAC 2005-07 draft strategy and arrange consultation on it.
Agenda item 13: Scoping the Work Plan and Research for 2005-06
37. Neil Betteridge explained that DPTAC needed to develop its work programme setting realistic targets for each working group in addition to the ongoing statutory tasks that DPTAC carried out such as responding to consultations and advising DfT on exemptions from the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations and Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations.
38. It was suggested that each Working Group should try to identify no more than three tasks for the new work programme. Working Group Chairs were asked to submit a list of suggested work programme tasks to the Secretariat by 15 November.
39. DPTAC would also need to prioritise its research programme and identity proposals for next year for submission to the DfT and ODPM by mid-November. Members were requested to forward ideas for research to Working Group Chairs by 15 October.
40. Sue Sharp suggested DPTAC consult with Mobility & Inclusion Unit to avoid any duplication of research proposals.
Action point 16: Working Group Chairs to submit a list of suggested work programme tasks to the Secretariat by 15 November.
Action point 17: Members to forward ideas for research to Working Group Chairs by 15 October.
Agenda item 14: Scoping Induction for 2005
41. Neil Betteridge explained that the interviews for the latest round of appointments to DPTAC would be taking place during October. The Minister would be appointing new Members to the Committee in December.
42. Members were asked for comments on what the most effective introduction to the work of DPTAC would be for new Committee Members. On induction new Members would be asked to fill vacancies in working groups taking into account their expertise and preferences. There was a general view that the induction should not overwhelm new members with too much information. The reports of Working Group Chairs on their activities and plans would help to facilitate new members' understanding of the working groups.
43. The Chair and Secretariat would develop the induction process subject to Members further ideas for the training day for all Members provisionally booked for 19th January 2005.
Action point 18: Members to feed in further ideas on induction and training to the Secretariat.
Action point 19: Chair and Secretariat to develop the training and induction process.
Agenda item 15: DPTAC Publication Scheme for Freedom of Information Act 2000
44. At the Main June Committee meeting Members were advised that DPTAC's draft Publication Scheme necessary to comply with the Freedom of Information Act would be circulated for consultation in July.
45. Neil Betteridge explained that the Freedom of Information Act came into force on 1 January 2005 and all public authorities including DPTAC would be required to make specific information in relation to DPTAC's work available upon request within twenty working days of each request.
46. DPTAC also needed to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme to set out the classes of information that it plans to publish, timing for publication and any charges made for its publication. Members were circulated the draft paper at its consultation stage in July 2004 and following the consultation process amendments had been made to include reference to DPTAC's internal guidelines, instructions and manuals for members. Members were asked to formally agree the amended document for adoption and Neil explained it would then be forwarded to the Information Commissioner for approval.
47. Members agreed to adopt the draft Publication Scheme. The Secretariat would arrange for the document to be submitted to the Information Commissioner to approve the scheme.
Action point 20: Secretariat to arrange for the DPTAC Publication Scheme document to be sent to the Information Commissioner for approval.
Agenda item 16: Any other business
48. There were no items for discussion.
Agenda item 17: Launch of Door to Door website
49. Neil Betteridge announced that DPTAC had that morning launched its new `Door to Door' website, which had been developed in partnership with Tripscope, (the National Travel Information Service for disabled people). The website gave disabled people information and advice about all aspects of transport and travelling.
50. Neil explained that Door to Door was only currently available in text-only version but would be shortly available in an easy to use version for people with learning disabilities. Hard copies of the website would also be available in alternative formats on request from the DPTAC Secretariat. The website address is www.dptac.gov.uk/door-to-door/.
51. Neil thanked the Secretariat especially Ffion Grant for all the hard work in producing the website which had been well received during its trials with disabled users at the Mobility Roadshow.
Date of next Main Committee meeting:
1 December 2004.
Dates for Main Committee meetings 2005:
9 March.
15 June.
14 September.
7 December.
Members' training and new Members' induction day (full day):
19 January 2005.
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