Rugby Disability Forum

RUGBY DISABILITY FORUM

Chair: David Foster–Tel: 01788 544991 Secretary: John Burrell–Tel: 01788 533796

Meeting held at Hamilton House

On Tuesday 28th November 2006

1. Presentation by Liz Harry re: Inclusive Fitness at Ken Marriott Leisure Centre

            Liz explained that she is at the Centre to help people with disabilities and old people integrate via sport activities. KMLC has many facilities in the gym where people with disabilities can have five ½ hour sessions with a fitness instructor on a one to one basis – the first session is free! Rugby Borough Council (tel. 533788) have a concessionary Leisure Pass scheme that costs £1.00 and gives discounts to most facilities at the Centre. Saturday Club at the Centre is popular where all sorts of sports are available as well as the opportunity to meet new people.

            Liz can be contacted on tel. 07707609133 or email hurelizabe@aol.com for further information/advice.

            Martin (who was chairing the meeting due to David not being well) thanked Liz for her presentation.

2.         Martin welcomed everyone and introductions were made.

          Present:-           H. Mossop, E. Harry, C.Read, Jagdeep Rainu, Mala Solanki, Chris McGaffney, G. Wilde, Jean Box, John Hicks, Gordon Boyle, Sheena Corbett, Paul Cooper, Anne Clarke, Pat Clarke, Tony Waffenden, Derek Hillman, Jack Lawton, Andrew Cowan, Martin Eversfield, John Burrell Patsy Newton, Daphne Johnson, Icil in Johnson, Joyce Carter.

      Apologies:-      David Foster, Sue Hillman, Clem Griffiths, William Mahony, Enid Blencowe, Eileen Cowan

4. Correspondence - None

5.         Martin explained that as the last meeting was the AGM the minutes will be dealt with prior to the next AGM.

6.         Matters Arising

            JB advised that Sheena Corbett had given her apologies but this had not been recorded, at the AGM meeting.

Following the AGM it was realised that too many members had been elected onto the Committee. In order to put this right Jack Lawton withdrew his nomination and accordingly the remaining six members retain their position on the Committee.

Committee – JB advised that Craig gave an in depth report on work done so far on the Access Guide and asked for comments/observations. A number of useful points were raised which Craig will include. A full page of the guide will be devoted to the Forum which JB will draft and run past David. A draft copy of the Guide will be ready to show Forum members at our January meeting. David outlined the responsibilities and liabilities of members.

Drop Kerbs – Geoff and Enid are to help Website – Anne agreed to help Andrew.

Shopwatch – the lead on this needs to have some IT skills dues to everyone’s commitments no-one offered to lead on this and it was agreed to discuss at Forum meeting.

Agenda for forum meeting agreed.

Funding applied for to pay for hire of Hamilton House for Forum meetings we will know whether we have been successful in January.

Drop Kerbs – Martin advised that next phase was to be New Bilton to Old Station Road/Newbold Road. Three groups of volunteers. Geoff is doing Glebe Crescent. A l ady had contacted Martin and is prepared to survey The Kent area. Agreed Martin will do a 3 year action plan for next Committee Meeting.

JL again stated that we should be finishing the Town Centre prior to going further afield. Hillmorton Road, Lawrence Sheriff Street, Drury Lane areas should be given priority. Martin agreed to look at these and report to next meeting.

Christmas Dinner – Derek stated that 63 people attended. Everyone agreed it was a resounding success. Derek agreed to organise next one but requested more time to organise.

Eating Out Guide – Derek advised that of the 54 places identified about 45 were surveyed. Rugby has a great variety of restaurants to cater for everyone. Outlying districts could be more of a problem to survey.

Website – Andrew gave details of Web site and agreed to come to the next meeting with a hard copy of the main page.

Andrew is available in the Library most Wednesday mornings between 10 & 12 am should anyone want some training on how to access the Web.

TAXI LICENSING Jack Lawton

Further to previous reports, the last to the September meeting, the Council has advised that there has been considerable slippage in its programme both to provide five additional taxi licences for accessible taxis and to review its taxi licencing policy.

It is now expected that the first two of the five new licences will be advertised in March next year, with two more in October 2007 and the final one in January 2008.

Over the next few weeks Council officers will be looking at the issues affecting

taxi licensing policy and how it will affect timescales. The review is unlikely to

take place until well into 2007.

(vii) TOWN CENTRE PARKING AND DECRIMINALISATION Jack Lawton

The new on-street parkingarrangements introduced following decriminalization of parking, involving Pay and Display, have been operation for about a month and seem to be successful in encouraging more frequent turnover.

With regard to off-street parking, a start on the redevelopment of the Chapel Street car park, is not now expected before April/May next year.

The expected start dates on the other twodevelopments affecting the Gas Street car park and surface parking at the John Barford multi-storey car park remain 'the middle of next year'.

As previously reported, these three developments will result in the loss of some 450 parking spaces while works are carried out. They will be more than replaced when the Chapel Street scheme is completed. The Council has issueddetails of a number of measures which are being considered to help alleviate the position during in the meantime.

These include the provision of additional temporary parking. It will be encouraging cycling, walking, car sharing, and the use public transport. It will also be talking to bus operators about improving services and to businesses about ways of assisting staff and customers.

The Council says that there is currently under-used capacity of 300 spaces in the Clock Towers and John Barford Multi-Storey Car Parks.

(viii) CALDECOTT PARK RESTORATION SCHEME Jack Lawton
As previously reported the scheme for the restoration and improvement of
Caldecott Park, on which the Forum was consulted, is going ahead next year.
I shall be attending a preview of the Master Plan on 27 November and shall report further at the meeting.

Rebecca Webber the Project Officer for the scheme has agreed to make a presentation to the Forum on 19 December.

8. Johns spot

JB gave details of people booked to give presentations as follows:

December Rebecca Webber (Restoration of Caldecott Park)

January Bernadette Jacques (PALS)

February Milan Tursner (WCC Policy on shared use of footpaths for cycleways)

March - Jagdeep Rainu (Direct Payments)

April Tim Astley (Coventry Law Centre on DDA)

May Clem Griffiths (David Lewis Centre for Epilepsy)

June Eileen Cowan, WCC & David Buggins (Update on Equality Policies

& Consultation)

July - Jill Young (Community Policing & how it affects disabled people)

9. Shopwatch

JB reminded everyone that this Group was formed to improve access to premises in the Town. A lot has been done but it is vital that someone volunteers to take this forward with the help of other members. Derek offered to help but due to other commitments did not want to be the lead person. No one else from the floor volunteered and therefore it was agreed that this item be taken back to Committee perhaps to identify other ways of doing this.

10. A.O.B.

Representative from Library not present. Derek advised that Joanne’s post wasn’t going to be filled and there would be no Community Librarian in future. Agreed to refer to Committee as to whether someone attending from library serves any useful purpose for the Forum.

Warwickshire police have produced a small blue book on “all you need to know about police work in your community” and is available to all members. New CCTV scheme – camera system has been extended and police can track people further, which can only make Rugby a safer place.

Date of Next Meeting – 19th December 2006

Everyone is asked to bring some goodies as it will be a very informal meeting.

skip navigation

Meeting held at Hamilton House

Change Styles