For a printable copy of these minutes, please email HASengagement@northyorks.gov.uk
Present: Maggie Donnelly – Meeting Chair (RDF), Phil Dodson (SDDF), Helen Firth (CDF), Oliver Griffiths (HDDF), Ian Lawson (YCRDF), Eleanor Tew (York Disability Rights Forum), Helen Williams (NYC),
Apologies: Jeremy Dunford, John Slaughter, Eleanor Gabriel
Key to Abbreviations
CDF—Craven Disability Forum
HDDF—Harrogate District Disability Forum
NAOFF— Northallerton Over Fifties Forum
NYC—North Yorkshire Council
NYDF—North Yorkshire Disability Forum
NYLDPB – North Yorkshire Learning Disability Partnership Board
RDF—Ripon Disability Forum
SDDF—Selby District Disability Forum
YCRDF—Yorkshire Coast and Ryedale Disability Forum
YDRF- York Disability Rights Forum
THE FIRST PART OF THE MEETING WAS USED FOR THE AGM
1. Introductions and welcome; declarations of interest; apologies
Maggie welcomed everyone and introductions were made.
There were no declarations of interest.
2. NYDF Annual Report
Helen W explained that due to the Chair currently taking a break and the interim vice chair having not attend all the years previous meetings, that a collective forum report may be a more appropriate approach. The forum agreed with this. Helen W read out the draft report shared with the papers. Maggie asked for the inclusion of the Ripon Accessibility work with Nimbus.
The meeting then proceeded to the business of the NYDF Quarterly Meeting
1. Notes of the last meeting
The notes of the last meeting were confirmed as accurate.
2. Matters Arising & Action Log
Action: NYDF to contact Richard Flinton to ask for update about what progress had been made against the items discussed and to outline again the benefits of an access officer. Ian Lawson shared that he had contacted Richard Flinton for an update, however Richard is away until the end of June and Ian is expecting an update then.
Action: Oliver to join Accessible Transport Group. Helen W gave an update on the status of the Accessible Transport Group. A meeting took place earlier in the week with Ian L, Sandy Marshall who facilities the group and Dawn Hague from Key Ring who support the self-advocacy members. The Integrated Transport team at NYC have been in touch to discuss carrying out a ‘mystery shop’ of the services they run and this may be a project for the Accessible Transport Group. Ian said he is aware that training for strapping in wheelchairs is available for taxi drivers and this could be shared with the bus drivers.
Action: Ian to contact list of disabled people’s organisations to see if their members are interested in joining the Accessible Transport group. Completed.
Action: Claire to enquire about availability of York CVS for development day. Completed. The development day will take place on Friday 25th August.
Action: Claire will look into anonymous post on NYDF Facebook group. Completed. This post would have been made by a member and the anonymous setting was on in error.
3. Local Forum reports
Craven Disability Forum
- The Benridgg Trust and Craven Arts House attended the most recent meeting. Craven Arts House previously approached the forum for advice on ensuring their building was accessible and updated the forum the result of their work.
- Facebook membership has now reached over 100 and continues to grow on a weekly basis.
- Forum members Ji Mukhergee has received an award from Community First Yorkshire for his work around accessible sport.
- Helen F proposed there need to be review of the NYDF constitution to include everyone who attends the meetings. Helen W said that the terms of reference were due for renewal in the coming year.
Harrogate District Disability Forum
- Transdev attended the forum to discuss the Harrogate Bus station and key points. The forum shared their ongoing concerns around accessibility at the station and hope to re-establish a two-way dialogue moving forward.
- The latest Station Gateway plans and progress were discussed following feedback previously submitted by the forum.
- Highways attended the forum and gave an overview on current works, reporting of issues and contact email for reporting any problems.
Ripon Disability Forum
- The forum has been involved in several consultations with North Yorkshire Council and Healthwatch.
- The forum has continued their involvement in the Local Cycling, Walking and Access Infrastructure Plan and their own mapping project of the city currently being undertaken by members.
- Forum membership continues to grow.
Yorkshire Coast and Ryedale Disability Forum
- The forum continues to link to other local organisations and have met with The Personalised Learning College at The Street in Scarborough. Students and support assistant were at the meeting. They were very interested to hear about the work of the forum. It is hoped they will continue to engage moving forward.
York Disability Rights Forum
- The forum continues their work around the Blue Badge Ban and hope that it may soon be lifted due Labour now having the majority in the council.
- They are concerns about the proposals for York Railway Station redevelopment. The current planning application will greatly affect access to the station with no more drop offs at the front and re-siting of blue badge spaces and buses.
- The health subgroup has now become a neurodiversity group due to the increased activity around the restrictions to adult autism and ADHD assessments.
The forum discussed the York Railway Station Plans. Ian had attended a meeting during the week and gave an overview to the forum. There were concerns raised during the meeting that Leeds Station had not be involved in the planning having recently undergone their own works.
Action – Helen W to find out if North Yorkshire Council had any input into the Station plans
4. Taxis & Accessible Transport Group
Ian updated the forum on taxi’s and the Accessible Transport Group. The council are going to commission an Inclusive Service Plan to look at how the number of taxis can be increased. Working with Stronger Communities, over 90 disabled people’s organisations have been approached and asked to obtain feedback for the unmet needs survey. Ian encouraged everyone at the meeting to get feedback from local forums once a traffic consultant has been appointed by the Council to carry out the work. He advised that the consultant would require facts from identifiable individuals.
5. Wheelchair Services
Lisa introduced herself as the Wheelchair Service User Liaison Lead and explained her role which deals with the Personal Wheelchair Budget (PWB) and networking with groups. Paul introduced himself and gave some background about the service which has been running since December 2016. Prior to Covid there were active service user forums running quarterly, however numbers attending these have decreased. The service want to ensure that people can be involved in the design of the service and realise a lot has changed since it was commissioned. Lisa and Paul told the forum they want to understand what people want and expect from the service.
A discussion followed around expectations and wants. It was noted that different communication methods needed to be offered to people and overall communication needed to be improved. Some forum members have experienced long waits for equipment without an idea of timelines, some were unsure of the location of the office when it relocated as it had not been communicated and the forum raised concerns about assessment/reassessment visits not taking place resulting in unsuitable equipment being provided.
Paul explained the current situation around new vs refurbished chairs noting that if a chair is over 7 years old it would not be refurbished for reuse.
The service is looking at developing a charter which would be written by service users outlining what they want from the service and invited any interested forum members to participate in its creation.
Action – Helen to ask Lisa to put some information together and share with local forums.
Action- HW to share Lisa’s details with forum and members to let her know if they want to be involved.
6. Buses
Ian provided an update on buses and shared his recent experiences with either buses being unsuitable or not arriving at all. He explained a spot check had taken place in Whitby resulting in 6 buses being taken off the road. He asked forum members to consider encouraging regional forum members to join the Accessible Transport Group so that all forums are represented.
7. A.O.B
There was no other business and Maggie closed the meeting.
