Agenda item

Accessibility of Public Rights of Way for People with Disabilities

To receive the above titled presentation by Lisa Hughes.

Minutes:

Lisa Hughes gave a presentation on the above titled item. The presentation highlighted the definition of the Equality Act 2010 and ways in which it could apply to public rights of way. Members were told that there were six key areas relating to disability that had changed within the Act which included; definition of disability, associative discrimination, discrimination arising from disability indirect discrimination, reasonable adjustments and that public bodies now had more duties. It was highlighted that public authorities must make reasonable adjustments to ensure that a disabled person was not put at a substantial disadvantage in comparison with persons who are not disabled. The forum were informed of the s149, “public sector equality duty” where a public body must have due regard to eliminating conduct that is prohibited by the act, advancing equality of opportunity between people who have a disability and people who do not and fostering of good relations between people who have a disability and people who do not.. Members were also told that in addition to the public bodies listed in schedule 19 that the section also impose the public sector equality duty on others that exercise public functions but only in respect of their public functions.

 

Members were told that in sub section (6) that it was made clear that complying with the duty could mean treating some people more favourably than others and when doing so is allowed by the act. Guidance from the Department of Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) were discussions which included service providers who must also exercise public functions and to every public authority. It was outlined that equality impact assessments(EIA) should be carried out by public authorities and it was noted that RBWM had been good in this area and that EIA’s had been a valuable tool to encourage service managers to consider the equality issues within service and to act upon findings of the assessments. Types of disabilities and impairments were defined along with the models of disability which included the medical model and social model. Barriers to green spaces encountered by individuals with impairments included issues with vulnerability in populated green spaces, high levels of disability related harassment, difficulty in coping with situations when unsteady on feet or when using wheelchairs and a feeling of unwelcome if a site was neglected or poorly managed. Other issues included a limitation to the provision of information available, resources ( such as additional equipment required for access to greenspaces), financial such as transport costs, car parking charges and entrance fees. It was also highlighted that some individuals may need a companion at the green space and could also face difficulty in getting to the greenspace where no suitable public transport was available. It was noted that there were also physical barriers at the site which were both manmade and natural.

 

At the conclusion of the discussion members of the forum discussed a range of topics which included:

·         “ reasonableness” test

·         Accountability for removal of stiles by owner/occupiers of land

·         Best practice nationally and examples

·         Equality impact assessments carried out by RBWM

·         Impact of social media

·         British Standards and Inclusive Mobility 2005 guidance

·         Schemes by National parks to promote accessibility for all.

·         Easy access routes and signage

·         Hazard flagging for the visually impaired

·         Visual contrasting of access controls

 

Members agreed that access should be looked at to support all and to increase access to all, including families with pushchairs also. Members noted that it would be useful and interested to look at whole pathway routes and how access could be improved and developed. It was proposed that a task and finish group be formed to produce recommendations on accessibility improvements across the borough. It was agreed that Dom Lethbridge, Christine Gadd and Lisa Hughes would form the membership of the task and finish group and would return with draft terms of reference and update the group at the next meeting on progress.

 

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY; That Christine Gadd, Lisa Hughes and Dom Lethbridge form the membership for the accessibility of public rights of way for those with disabilities task and finish group.

 

ACTION- That an update item be added to a future meeting agenda with regards to the task and finish group.