Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair will welcome everyone to the meeting and invite people to introduce themselves.   

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.  People present introduced themselves and their role at the meeting.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Cath Hoyle, Albert and Rita Jeffrey and Harold Rimmer. 

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of your membership of another public body or one to which you have been appointed by the Council then you only need to declare it if you intend to speak.

If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

No Councillors declared an interest in relation to matters under consideration at the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Disability Liaison Group held on 18th April 2007 (enclosed)

The minutes of the meeting of the Disability Liaison Group held on 18 April 2007 were confirmed as a correct record.

A schedule will be circulated at the meeting listing issues that have been considered at past meetings of the Liaison Group and summarising the action that has either been taken by Officers or is proposed to be instigated on matters in respect of Pavements, Dropped Kerbs, Road Crossings, General Highway Issues, Parking and Other Issues.

The Group considered a schedule listing issues that have been considered at past meetings of the Liaison Group and summarising the action that has either been taken or is proposed by Officers. 

The following points were discussed:

Dropped Kerbs

2,a, Bolton Street opposite QS: this has been completed. 

New Issue: there are a number of dropped kerbs that need to be replaced on Pall Mall. 

Road Crossings

Market Street junction with Saint Thomas’ Road:Chorley Council are keen to see a zebra crossing on St Thomas's road near to its junction with Market Street.  County are finalising the design and will confirm an estimate to Chorley in the near future.  Mr Capstick confirmed that as there are so many procedures to follow that are outside his control he could not provide a firm date as to when this crossing could be constructed.  The Group thanked all of the officers and Members for their work on this project. 

New issue: Could there be a crossing on School Lane, Brinscall and Bury Lane, Withnell by the Post Office, preferably a zebra type crossing. 

New issue: Could there be a crossing by the bus stop, at the junction of Oakmere Avenue and Blackburn Road in Higher Wheelton. 

General Highway Issues

New Issue: there are a number of double yellow lines that need to be repainted on Pall Mall.  Vehicles are parking where they shouldn’t. 

Parking

Car parking on Coronation rec: The action taken has been successful, as vehicles have not been parking on the rec. 

New issue: The disabled parking bay outside the One Stop Shop is only for half an hour.  If the One Stop Shop is busy customers are longer than half an hour.  Could the bay be made for an hour. 

Other Issues

6,a, Steps at the Railway Station: the paving blocks at the edges of the steps have been repainted.  This can be removed from the schedule.  

6,a, Minicom at the Railway Station: This issue has been going on a number of years and needs to be resolved.  The Assistant Chief Executive will write to Northern Rail and report back to the next meeting.

The Council is currently making preparations to relet the contract for the collection of waste and recycling. The views of those attending this meeting will be sought as to how we can best meet the needs of residents with disabilities.

Sarah explained that the Council is currently making preparations to relet the contract for the collection of waste and recycling.  She asked for the views of the meeting as to how the service can best meet the needs of residents with disabilities - it was important to highlight the practical issues that caused problems and areas where the service could be improved.

Issues raised included:

·        Emptied bins and recycling receptacles left on the pavement and road are a hazard, especially for partially sighted people.  If the pavement is blocked the guide dog will take the person into the road, the situation is made even more dangerous by the number of parked cars generally on roads. 

·        Broken glass and debris currently left on the ground after collections should be swept up.

·        Experience of the assisted bin collection was positive.

·        Standard wheeled bins are too tall and heavy for some people: smaller bins should be offered. 

It was suggested that proposals be submitted to the meeting of the Forum on 4 September for further comments.  Members of the Group would bring any other experiences relating to waste collection and recycling to the next meeting.

The Chair introduced Lindsey Ralston, Landscape Assistant, to talk about the pavement cafe design and license guide.  The Group thanked Lindsey for her attendance at short notice. 

Lindsey explained that the policy was being brought in to guide the growing culture of pavement cafes.  There was a wish to encourage people to use the town centre more in the evenings and traders supported this.  In the long term there were plans to have a cultural quarter in Market Street.  There would be opportunities to update the document on an ongoing basis and it was important to have the input of the Group. 

The policy would enable the Council to take enforcement action against traders who did not comply.  It was noted that the policy was need to be able to take enforcement action.  It was hoped that the policy would assist with the issue of A-Boards in the town centre.  Officers from the Council’s SNED Directorate would undertake enforcement. 

The Group noted that the policy had to work with the space available.  There were few places where there would be 3.5 metres of the pavement left unobstructed as well as a pavement cafe.  Areas designated for pavement cafes would be marked out with studs in the pavement and barriers.  It was highlighted that barriers would need to be a contrasting colour for partially sighted people with a barrier at floor level for cane users. 

Other points made included that the space needed for mobility scooters was wider than for wheelchairs.  If the pavement were taken away guide dogs would have a problem as the dog used either the pavement or the building.  This would be compacted by the added distractions to the dog of people and food.  It was suggested that the Group be added to the list of people to be consulted on applications. 

The Group thanked the Council for producing the guidance and hoped that it’s implementation would resolve some of the issues faced by members of the Group.  It was noted that a reasonable amount of time for consultation should be given for future consultation documents. 

The Chair introduced Steve Lloyd from Lancashire County Council, who gave an update on Chorley Registry Office.

Steve explained that the funds were in place to go forward on the new, fit for purpose, building for Chorley Registry Office in the corner of the West Street car park.  Plans of the building were pinned on the display boards for the Group to look at. 

It was noted that there would be different entrances for marriage ceremonies and people registering births and deaths.  There would be an area for photographs and five car parking spaces, two of which were for disabled drivers.  There were a number of toilets in the building, including disabled toilets and baby changing facilities. 

There would be a notice in the reception areas showing how to attract attention if a receptionist was not present.  It was suggested that there be access to online registry services at the new Registry Office.  This would be looked into. 

It was agreed that the plans be forwarded to the Disability Forum for further comments.  The Group thanked Steve for his attendance and opportunity to comment on the plans at this early stage.  Steve agreed to give an update to a future meeting of the Group on details such as the operation of the doors and signage. 

Eileen Bee of the Disability Forum will update on plans for the Disability Awareness Day.

Eileen updated the Group on the plans for the REACH event.  It would be held on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 August on Market Street and Fazackerley Street between 11 and 3.  There would be stalls from both voluntary and statutory organisations and a range of entertainment and displays.  

There would be a launch the event in the Lancastrian on Thursday 2 August between 7 and 9.  This would be guest speakers, a drama group and an opportunity to network.  

A list of contact details for the various Community Beat Managers is enclosed

A procedure for contacting the Police through TYPETALK is enclosed

The Group received, as part of the agenda, the contact details for the Community Beat Managers and the procedure for using the TYPETALK system. 

It was noted that at Chorley Police Station the loop system only worked once inside the station, Adrian undertook to look into this.  A poster with information for people with disabilities in the reception area would be helpful. 

Anyone who wanted to visit the Communications Room at Hutton would contact Adrian on Adrian.Beardmore@lancashire.pnn.police.uk.  He would speak to communications about the use of minicoms at Police Stations.  

Sarah Dobson Performance Advisor will provide a short verbal update on delivery of the Councils Equality Scheme.

It was agreed that this item be deferred to the next meeting. 

The Group Work Programme will be circulated at the meeting.

It was agreed that the draft work program be distributed with the minutes for discussion at the next meeting.

The Chair reported that Harold Rimmer stood down as the Disability Forum Chairman at the Forum AGM last month, and Terry Reynolds was elected as new Chair.   

The Group thanked Harold for all his work and wished Terry all the best as the new Chair.  

The proposed dates are 10 October 2007, 9 January 2007 23 April 2007.  Would the Group like to amend the start time for the winter meetings?

The proposed dates for future meetings are 10 October 2007, 9 January 2007 23 April 2007.  It was agreed to keep the start time of 7.00pm.  

If the Group would like to suggest an item for the next agenda please contact Ruth in Democratic Services (ruth.hawes@chorley.gov.uk) by Monday 24 September.