To consider the items below:

7.1       Consultations

Lynne Penn, Transport and Access Team Leader, informed the Forum Members that there were no current consultations.

If anyone wishes to see the consultations online, they can be found at:

https://www3.rbwm.gov.uk/consultations

7.2       Planning Applications

Lisa Hughes had volunteered to look at future planning applications which would be of interest to the Access Advisory Forum and was happy to report that there were four applications:

·         Council offices in Windsor, additional floor, require lift clarifications.

·         2 x Apartment buildings, disabled car parking spaces removed after application passed.

·         Picture house, Bridge street, clarification on signage.

The Chairman requested feedback on these four applications.

ACTION: Lynne Penn to take forward.

7.3       Changing Places

Changing Places toilets provide:

The right equipment

• A height adjustable changing bench

• A tracking hoist system, or mobile hoist if this is not possible

Enough space

• Adequate space in the changing area for the disabled person and up to two carers

• A centrally placed toilet with room either side for the carers

• A screen or curtain to allow the disabled person and carer some privacy

A safe and clean environment

• Wide tear off paper roll to cover the bench

• A large waste bin for disposable pads

• A non-slip floor

The borough has three changing place, they are all located in leisure centres, one in the Magnet, Maidenhead, one at Windsor leisure centre and one at Cox Green leisure centre. The borough looked at placing a changing place at the coach park in Windsor but two accessible toilets would have been removed so did not go ahead. There are many opportunities for the borough with all the regeneration taking place. Mobile changing facilities are also available at some public events.

7.4       Review of Terms of Reference

The Forum had previously looked at the Terms of Reference and the following changes were agreed:

·         In section 1.2, Membership,

o   delete point five,

o   in point six, delete the word ‘appropriate’, add the words ‘enabling’ and ‘to access services’ so it should read “RBWM officers concerned with enabling people with disabilities to access services”.

o   In point eight, add ‘or representatives’so it should read “The Forum Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be service users or representatives. They shall be independent from the Council and shall be elected from amongst the members of the Forum”.

7.5       Access to River Street car park, Windsor

Tim Clare informed the Forum that there were problems in reaching the ticket machine to go into the car park. This was resulting in the barrier not going up and traffic building up. Tim Clare suggested a chip be placed in blue badge passes that could be read from further distance.

Neil Walter suggested the two options that were being discussed, Automated Number Plate Recognition and/or a proximity reader. Neil Walter suggested that as a short term measure, the driver could call before reaching the car park in order for the attendant to be aware. Tim Clare highlighted that this would not be manageable for him and would take time.

The Chairman asked if there were any plans to increase the number of disabled bays at the River Street car park and was informed that there were no plans at present.

Tim Clare informed the Forum that one of the disabled bays in the car park at the library had hedges overgrown into it and therefore could not park there. Neil Walter would follow this up.

ACTION: Neil Walter to inform the Streetcare team.

Neil Walter requested that the Forum identify car parking spaces that could be used as disabled bays so he could include them in a review he was conducting. All suggestions to be sent to Neil.Walter@rbwm.gov.uk

7.6       Public Bus Services

Lynne Penn informed the Forum of current bus services being tendered for a number of reasons. The tender process was due to complete on 27 March 2017.

Any Other Business

Councillor Hollingsworth informed the Forum that he would offer support to Neil Walter for finances to put the barrier in the Nicholsons car park and speak to Councillor Cox.

Tim Clare suggested that all planning applications should be checked for lift size as currently lifts are too small.

Robin Pemberton informed the Forum that there would be an Autism display in the Nicholson Centre on Wednesday 29 March.