Agenda item - Emergency Active Travel measures - Blue Badge holder parking and access for disabled people

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

1)             That the action being taken to address the issues raised in the deputation on Blue Badge holder parking and access for disabled people be noted;

2)             That in relation to 2.1 above, to request that the action being taken takes fully into account experiences of Blue Badge holders and those who have difficulties getting around in order to avoid negative outcomes by undertaking a city-wide appraisal with the aim of improving access for disabled and less abled people; and

3)             That it be noted that this action is not considered to breach the Council’s obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

44.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that responded to a deputation presented to the September meeting of the committee that detailed  the impact of the Council’s Covid-19 Urgent Response Transport Action Plan on Blue Badge parking and disabled access in the city.

44.2      Councillor Williams moved a motion on behalf of the Labour Group to amend the recommendations as shown in bold italics and where struck through below:

That the Committee

2.1    That Note the action being taken to address the issues raised in the deputation on Blue Badge holder parking and access for disabled people be noted;

2.2    That in relation to 2.1 above, to request that the action being taken takes fully into account experiences of Blue Badge holders and those who have difficulties getting around in order to avoid negative outcomes by undertaking a city-wide appraisal with the aim of improving access for disabled and less abled people; and

2.3   That it be noted Note that this action is not considered to breach the Council’s obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

44.3      Introducing the motion, Councillor Williams explained that it was intended to ensure a full and wide-ranging citywide appraisal of all the council’s facilities.

44.4      Councillor Wilkinson formally seconded the motion.

44.5      Councillor Wares stated that it was inappropriate for the council to investigate itself on whether it had breached the Equalities Act. Councillor Wares noted that BADGE and Possibility People had written to the committee members at length with their disagreement with the contents of the report. Councillor Wares stated that it was highly concerning that the report stated that disability groups had been consulted with when this was clearly not the case and of further concern was that many of the specific locations raised in the deputation had not been addressed. Councillor Wares stated that there was a lack of transparency in not publishing the A259 audit undertaken and he was very disappointed in some of the language used that in places was discriminatory. Councillor Wares stated that his Group would not be supporting the report nor the Labour Group motion.

44.6      The Assistant Director- City Transport explained that a Stage 2 Road Safety Audit was currently being undertaken on the A259 and required input for the design team that was currently in progress. The initial findings of that audit was there were no safety related issues and that audit would be published das soon as it was completed.

44.7      The Chair then put the motion to the vote that passed.

44.8      The Chair then put the recommendations as amended to the vote that were agreed.

44.9      Whilst no formal recorded vote was undertaken, Councillor Wares and Councillor Brown asked that it be recorded in the minutes that they voted against both the motion and the recommendations as amended.

44.10   RESOLVED-

1)             That the action being taken to address the issues raised in the deputation on Blue Badge holder parking and access for disabled people be noted;

2)             That in relation to 2.1 above, to request that the action being taken takes fully into account experiences of Blue Badge holders and those who have difficulties getting around in order to avoid negative outcomes by undertaking a city-wide appraisal with the aim of improving access for disabled and less abled people; and

3)             That it be noted that this action is not considered to breach the Council’s obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty.