5.1 Update on access audit and options for  a lift at the Windsor Guildhall

David Scott, Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnerships, informed the Forum that an update Access Audit of the Guildhall had been commissioned. Architects and access specialists were involved in the audit and a comprehensive report had just been received.

There would be a full review of the report and its findings by David Scott ahead of sharing its contents, but he provided a few headlines. The report made a number of suggestions for improvement. Since the building is a Grade I listed building, Listed Building Consent would need to be sought for any significant changes. Some, very minor, improvements could be achieved relatively easily. With regard to improving access to the first floor, the report identified potential options for a disabled WC and for enabling mobility-impaired visitors to access to the first floor.

David Scott suggested a follow up meeting with the Chairman and the Vice Chairman after the report had been discussed internally with officers to consider viability.

ACTION: David Scott to arrange meeting with Chairman and Vice Chairman in the New Year.

Lisa Hughes asked why public meetings were held at a venue that didn’t allow wheelchair users and some other people with disabilities to attend. Lisa Hughes suggested that the council might want to think again about using this as a venue for council and committee meetings until its accessibility can be improved.

5.2 Access Advisory Forum and Planning Applications

Lisa Hughes scrutinises planning applications on behalf of the forum, to check that accessibility features were included in line with regulations. Lisa Hughes had checked 229 applications and had raised 44 questions/issues/objections since the June forum meeting but had not had any response from planning.

Victoria Gibson, Team Manager in Planning, informed the Forum that all of the responses were viewed and scanned in on the relevant applications and considered by the planning officer. All comments/objections were summarised. There was no ongoing dialogue but all responses were documented and addressed. On all complex schemes, planning officers would respond.

Lisa Hughes asked if there could be a point of contact in the Planning department. Victoria Gibson offered to be that point of contact.

Lisa Hughes talked about the Local Access Forum recently developing positioning statements for pre-application discussions between Planning and potential developers. Lisa Hughes asked if it was possible for the Access Advisory Forum to do the same for expectations around accessibility in the built environment. Victoria Gibson informed the Forum that the position statement was only taken as guidance but would support the work.

Victoria Gibson offered to arrange a training session for Lisa Hughes to increase her knowledge of the planning process and regulations.

The Chairman requested some feedback from Planning on some of the planning applications at the next meeting.

ACTION: Victoria Gibson to arrange training session for Lisa Hughes.

ACTION: Feedback on planning applications at next meeting.

5.3 Raising profile of the Access Advisory Forum

The Chairman asked if the Access Advisory Forum had a small budget. The Forum wanted to have some leaflets produced to raise the profile of the Forum and place them in GP Surgeries and public places such as libraries. An article had already been published in Around the Royal Borough and future articles could be placed in there.

ACTION: Clerk to find out about any budget available for AAF publicising and way of raising the profile.

5.4 RBWM Draft Consultation – Equality Policy

Rachel Kinniburgh, Strategy Officer, gave a verbal update to the Forum on the Equality & Diversity Policy. The points Rachel Kinniburgh covered included:

·         An update on the Strategy teams activity since we last met on 19 June.

·         Acknowledged at the June meeting that the council was due to review and if appropriate, refresh, its equality and diversity objectives ahead of 1 April 2018. The team were working to do this currently as part of an integrated planning approach.

·         The council agreed its new strategic plan in July 2017 which incorporated a new vision – “Building a borough for everyone” and 6 strategic priorities.

·         Between November and March, two new corporate plans, the People Plan and the Customer Plan. These were being developed to align to the new strategic plan and would be incorporating equality objectives as they relate to the council’s role as both employer and service-provider. At the same time individual services would be developing their service plans and they too would be considering equality objectives as they relate to their service’s particular mandate. A much more proactive approach to equality and diversity was being taken by embedding it fully into the planning process and ensuring full ownership of objectives as a result.

·         Preparation of an annual report within which we would routinely include an annual statement outlining the council’s progress against its existing equality and diversity objectives – so enhancing transparency and accountability.

·         At the same time we have taken opportunity to refresh our Equality & Diversity Policy. Very much a draft at present and would invite the AAF’s commentary and feedback on this by end January to support its development and so that we may publish the refreshed policy by no later than 1 April 2018.

·         Lisa Hughes noted that the link to the current Equality & Diversity Policy on the RBWM website was broken.

ACTION: Forum Members to provide feedback on Equality & Diversity Policy by end of January 2018.

ACTION: Rachel Kinniburgh to look into acknowledging “access for all” as a key theme more overtly in council strategic plan and related documentation.

ACTION: Rachel Kinniburgh to check why the link to the current Equality & Diversity Policy is not working.