Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the forum and requested a minute’s silence be held for Chris Swinn, who had been an active and well-respected member of the Disabled Peoples Forum.

The Chair then welcomed Phil Bayliss for agreeing to update the Forum on Taxi Driver Training.

(Copy attached)

The Minutes of the meeting held on the 4^th January 2011 were agreed following minor amendments to be noted after the meeting.

Beverley Mennell noted that the Council marked with respect the death of Councillors, former Councillors and Mayors and suggested that the death of members of the public who had contributed to the Council's engagement arrangements such as the Forums and Tenants Participation meetings should also be acknowledged.

Madeline Boys commented that she believed that every person should be sent an application form for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG).  The Chair commented that should people want forms and information that they should contact their Ward Councillors who will be happy to assist.  Beverley Mennell informed Madeline Boys that the DFG were available in the One Stop Shop and that if people were unable to collect one from the Guildhall, forms would be posted out on request.

Chris Grethe (Northamptonshire Association for the Blind) reported that there would be changes to the Disability Living Allowances and asked forum members to sign the template letter, which was available, on line as a means of lobbying government with regards to the benefit system which was due to change in 2013.  For further information, people were advised to log ontowww.nab.org.uk

Madeline Boys argued that some older and disabled people a were currently not being well looked after and any further cuts would have detrimental effects on those people and on their families.

Chris Grethe reminded the forum that the County Council were due to hold their budget meeting on Monday the 28^th February and the NBC budget Council meeting would be held on the 28^th February 2011.

Beverely Mennell spoke in regards to taxis being supplied by the Council for people who wish to be involved in local politics and referred to the fact that there was not a policy in place which outlined who was entitled to transport.

Sue Campling (Northampton General Hospital NHS) explained that their four-year plan was currently being written and requested that if people had views or comments for her she would be able to feed the information back. In answer to a question, she commented that it would not be necessary to hold further meetings for this but that there would other means of communicating through other means such as Facebook.

Noor Homayoun commented that he was concerned about the budget cuts from County Council that would affect not only himself but also care staff and other people with disabilities.

Councillor PD Varnsverry suggested at the next meeting, once a true understanding of the budget cuts and it’s implications, a Post Budget Review could be held to update people.

To receive a verbal update from Northampton Borough Councils, Licensing Administration team.

Phil Bayliss (Principal Licensing Officer) spoke on the training that is offered to taxi drivers with regards to assisting those with disabilities which is run approximately every six weeks.  He informed the forum that post 2008 an induction course had been introduced which offered training to taxi drivers, which raised awareness on how best to assist people with disabilities – which it was explained, was not conducted in many Councils.  The training included gaining practical knowledge of wheelchair use and making drivers more aware of disabilities that are not easily visible.  A number of lectures to highlight and compliment the practical information being offered were also given.

The forum were notified that the training being undertaken was carried out with two disabled people, who were offering advice, not just about with regards to wheelchair users.  Drivers were given the opportunity to fold and unfold a wheelchair along with being given information with regards to sensory impairments such as loss of sight and hearing, which also had an impact on those who were sometimes dependant on taxi’s and private hire vehicles.

In response to a question, Phil Bayliss informed the Forum that the training course lasted for one and a half hours.  Some of the forum members suggested that this was not long enough and more time should be dedicated to making taxi drivers more aware of the needs of disabled people.  However, the Licensing Officer and those involved in the training argued that the time allowed was adequate and that should it be extended by any considerable amount of time would be counter productive due to the fact that some people would become disinterested and a high impact, short and informative approach worked well.

A number of the forum members asked if the training could be extended to Bus Drivers as there had been a number of issue with disabled passengers not being able to access buses that were carrying large numbers of push chairs.  The Licensing Officer commented that he would be happy to write to the bus companies to remind them of their obligations.  He also informed the group that if a taxi driver fails to stop and pick up a passenger due to their disability then they are committing an offence and that should a complaint be made, action would be taken against the driver.

The Licensing Officer explained that whilst the amount of time could be increased in terms of training, the training alone had improved the situation. There had been no negative feedback from taxi drivers who had undertaken the training. He also reported that a large focus of the training was to with awareness and attitude and changing stereotyping and inconsistency.

He further commented that should anyone experience any problems with taxi drivers, he would like to be contacted by the forum members and made aware of the situation:

(For comments or information, please contact Phil Bayliss on 01640 837099 or email him at pbayliss@northampton.gov.uk)

It was agreed that the next meeting would include an update on Post Budget Review and the effects of it on disabled people and care management.

The next meeting would be held on 22 June 2011.