Minutes, 22th February 2005

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

Rugby Disability Forum – Minutes of an Ordinary meeting held At Hamilton House at 10:00 am on Tuesday 22nd February 2005

Present: David Foster, Paul Tolley, Gloria Lawley-Ord, Derek & Susan Hillman, Anne Clarke, Krys Pietreski, Pat Clarke, Dianne Enefer, Robin Richter, John Burrell, Andrew Cowan, Steve Bunyan, Jack Lawton, Ali Wasstaff, Joanne Roberts, Sheila Porter-Williams, Daphne Johnson, Desiree Lambert, Chris McGaffney, Ian Haxton, Pam Jones, Clifton Dennis, Lionel Broughton, Sheena Corbett, Jan Dunseith, Joan Nyilassy, Nicholas Warton, Martin Eversfield, Clem Griffiths, Pat Compton, Harry Mossop, Paul Collette

Apologies: Richard Young, Mike Hirons, Marion Hessey, Dot Purdy, Mark Offord.

 

Minutes of last meeting: Accepted as a true record.

Robin’s presentation:

Robin Richter gave a presentation on Rugby Town Centre Business Improvement District and the Decriminalisation of Parking within the town.

Business Improvement District (BID) has been in America for 25 years and started in Canada. BID delivers what the Business community want over and above what the Local Authority delivers. Rugby Town Centre has been defined as a BID district. Under BID Business rate payers then vote on what they want to see delivered through the rates that they pay.

Rugby BID aims to deliver a cleaner, safer and friendlier town centre environment to ensure that the town centre does not become an area that people wish to avoid by…

BID will also provide Hosts for the town centre, as Rugby is a Tourist Town and 2.2 million people visit the town each year; spending 88 million pounds. The Hosts will be very prominent and will help visitors or shoppers within the town. The Hosts will also be the eyes and ears of the police and be able to communicate with the police, traders and CCTV operatives.

BID will deliver a brand new CCTV system at an all in cost of £750,000. Rugby Borough Council have agreed to committing £530,000 of this cost if the BID goes ahead. A Brand new control room and 7 panic points will also be provided in a similar way as in Leamington.

On September 1st 2005 a postal vote will be held for business rate payers to vote on this with an anticipated start date of 1st January 2006 if successful.

Martin Eversfield asked whether CCTV would cover the back streets. Robin replied yes, but he stated that the ‘Black Path’, (from Tesco to Town) will not be covered. The existing 16 cameras will be replaced to a total of 32 new cameras.

Jack Lawton asked whether as this is funded through business rates only, how does this affect charities who receive rate relief? Robin replied that this will have to be discussed at board level but charities will be asked to pay a proportionate amount.

Nicholas pointed out that Rugby Borough Council provide rate relief to charities within Rugby and may look at how they respond to this if the BID is successful.

Derek asked how many Hosts would be provided? Robin stated that 2-3 would be in the town at any one time, working from 10am -8pm (no night time working). BID lasts for 5 years and will be judged on its achievements during that time.

It was asked whether the Hosts will be trained? Robin stated that customer service and police training will be provided as the hosts will attend police role call each morning. Pubnet and Watchnet will be controlled by the BID programme if successful.

 

Decriminalisation of parking within the town centre.

Robin stated that when parking within the town centre is decriminalised Police will no longer be responsible for enforcing parking within the Town centre from August 2006. Decriminalised parking is already in place in Stratford and is being introduced in Nuneaton. Decriminalisation of parking will attempt to reduce congestion and car emissions within town centre.

Warwickshire County Council will probably make Rugby Borough Council responsible for enforcing parking on streets but Warwickshire County Council will remain ultimately responsible. It is likely that parking meters will be installed on streets as in Stratford. It is anticipated that a free parking zone will exist alongside a 20 minute parking and charged parking at a higher rate than local parking rates.

In Stratford very little consultation was had with local businesses and tickets were given out without any tolerance. There was confusion over the free zone and the 20 minute parking zones. All of these issues are hoped to be addressed within Rugby prior to its inception in August 2006.

It was asked where the money from parking fines and meters will go.

Robin stated that more Traffic Wardens to enforcing parking will be paid for with the added revenue created.


MATTERS ARISING.

  1. Flexibus. David Foster has spoken to Warwickshire County Council and they are looking at funding a dropped kerb, to be installed at the bus stop outside the amusements on North Street.
  2. Anne & Teresa are both available for any issue that members of the Forum wish to raise and are contactable on:

    Teresa Sharp - 01788 521494
    teresa.sharp1@talk21.com

    Anne Clarke – 01788 562157
    anneclarke_5@hotmail.com

    David stated that this was a service that had been asked for and it wasn’t being used. Please use it.
  3. Supermarkets & GP Surgeries: Supermarket parking forms resulted in only 2 returned so no analysis can be made. Forum members were reminded of the importance of completing questionnaires and the GP research questionnaire was circulated. (please don’t forget to fill them in)
  4. Funding: Steve stated that the result of the Heart of England application that he has submitted should be heard within the next week. The wheelchair race in July is hoped to raise £2200. David has picked up the application to Warwickshire County Council and has put in a proposal for £5000 to give Rugby Disability Forum a website. The proposal is based upon Council of Disabled People (CDP) creating the website. Gloria is hoping to do a car boot sale on Sunday to raise money for the Rugby Disability Forum, contributions of stuff received by some member but more will be appreciated (small and large clothes as well as children’s clothes very much appreciated but not ‘bric a brac’ unless large ornaments. Phone David Foster on 01788 544991 if you have anything to donate to Gloria for car boot sales.

    5. ACTION David to create an A4 sign for Gloria stating that all proceeds will go to the RDF.

  5. Shop Watch – This is the follow up to the Mystery Shopper event which will take place from 16th May onwards. The follow up will look at Access only. A five point check list will be used which will need to be signed and dated. David and Pat Compton have been around the town and a lot of work still needs to be done. Pat will be in Canada in May so Teresa will take Pat’s place. The Shop Watch Subgroup members are: Pat Compton, Teresa Sharp, David Foster, Gloria Lawley-Ord, Sue & Derek Hillman, Robin Richter, Paul Tolley, Jack Lawton and Chris McGaffney from the Bloxham Centre. Volunteers are required for the week of Shop Watch to get as many people involved and visiting stores as possible.

    ACTION: The subcommittee will meet on Thursday 10th @ 10 am. The meeting will be held at Committee Room 2 at the Town Hall. Pat Compton can be contacted on 01926 633282

  6. Dropped Kerbs – All monies allocated this year to dropped kerbs have been assigned to kerbs jointly identified by the Forum and Paul Cowley. New kerbs have been recently installed. David and Martin Eversfield will meet so that Martin can help take this project further, Cliff, Pam, Anne, Sue and Ian will also join the dropped kerb subcommittee. A list of dropped kerbs that require upgrading or installing can then be updated as it has been agreed to do all dropped kerbs required in Rugby within 10 years.
  7. Pentecostal Church - Paul Tolley and John Burrell have liaised and Paul Cowley has enabled the local Pentecostal Church to apply for an enforceable on-street parking bay for disabled people. The process may take some time but Paul and John will keep the Forum updated.

    ACTION John Burrell to follow this up.

  8. Wasps and Brooks awards – John updated that Rugby Borough Council has no control or input in the awards for excellent service.

 

4. Items For Discussion.

a) Wheelchair Race.

Police Inspector Les Twynham has e-mailed David Foster re: the Wheelchair race. It is anticipated that Inspector Twynham will be participating in the race. The police have also agreed to support the event with crowd control. David stated that a press release has gone to the Observer but we do not know who sent it.

ACTION All press releases to go through Paul Tolley as Press Officer on 02476 716217 or paultolley@cdp.org.uk

Wheelchair Race Subgroup meeting scheduled for Monday 28th Febuary at 2pm. The venue will be confirmed and all subcommittee members will be contacted.

 

b) Caldecotte Park & Taxi Licensing.

Caldecotte Park

Jack has spoken to Chris Worman who has a copy of Phil Chamber's report. The report will now be considered as part of the design process over the coming months. Chris believes that the report includes all of the Forum's points and will let the Forum have a copy.

Taxi Licensing 

Jack spoke to John Kerslake. The consultants are well behind programme and still analyzing questionnaire responses. John does not now expect to receive their report until April.

 

c) Library Question & Answer Session

Joanne circulated information packs detailing the services they offer and the accessibility of each of their libraries. They do also have mobile libraries which are accessible. Local library cards can be used throughout the Warwickshire Libraries.

Quiz to be held next Thursday 3rd March at 7pm at Rugby Library and Rugby Disability Forum invited to have a team of approx 6 people.

Quiz team- Andrew Cowan, David Foster, Dianne Enefer, Steve Bunyan and Gloria Lawley-Ord & Martin Eversfield.

Dianne Enefer highlighted that as an individual visiting the library she has been unable to access it due to needing support taking the wheelchair out of her car.

ACTION: Joanne will look into the insurance and H&S issues surrounding this.

Robin stated that in the future Town Centre Hosts would be able to provide assistance of this nature but in the meantime suggested that Community Support Officers could be contacted through the control room of the Town Centre.

Joanne updated the forum that they have story times for very small children, if anyone is interested please contact Joanne for details.

ACTION: Joanne will look into the issue of tactile paving causing problems for wheelchair users. John Burrell to look into this also.

 

Any Other Business.

Rugby Forward have given RDF, (us) some money to cover venue expenses. Nicholas Wharton updated the Forum on what Rugby Forward are currently doing. The partnership has 3 priorities which include developing the Train Station area, Brownsover ward and Rural areas within the Borough. (After the meeting Nicholas stated that “..anyone coming to a Forum meeting is entitled to expenses for travelling costs..”. Forms from Pat on 01926 633282 )

Jack reminded the meeting that the Forum and the Disability Support Group came into existence as a result of Rugby’s original community plan failure to include Disabled People. The Disability Support Group hopes that Rugby Forward can organise a Theme Group to address Disability Issues but in its absence the Disability Support Group is meeting with local providers.

 

a) John’s Spot

Disability GO website, www.DisabilityGo.info have approached Rugby Borough Council and gave a presentation to Councillors with a view to providing the website to Rugby at a cost of £30,000 for the first year to the Borough Council. Rugby Council can not afford this huge cost but are keen to produce something akin to the website described between the Council, the Rugby Disability Forum and the Disability Support group.

Jack highlighted that this is an extension of the concept of producing an accessibility guide to Rugby and that he hoped that the Council will take it forward quickly.

 

b) Patient & Public Information Forum

Sheila Porter-Williams gave a presentation on her role as a volunteer within the South Warwickshire Patient and Public Information Forums. Members of the Rugby Disability Forum are invited to join the local PPI forum to ensure that membership is representative of the wider community.

Current issues being addressed include access to dentistry and medicines for the Black & Minority Ethnic communities.

ACTION:Martin Eversfield agreed to join the PPI forum and report back to the Rugby Disability Forum.

If anyone would like to get involved in shaping local health provision and services through the local PPI forum they should send their details to:

PPI Forum Support
4-6 Clemens St
Leamington Spa
CV31 2DL

Or contact them: by phone on 01926 470522

By website www.cppih.org


c) Police Spot:

Harry Mossop introduced Paul Collette, a new Community Support Officer. Two more CSO’s have been recruited within Rugby.

Joanne Roberts pointed out that the Library was over-run with unruly youths during the half term week and did not see a CSO all week. Harry stated that he will relay this back but pointed out that due to the increased staff, presence within the town should be constant from now on.

Andrew Cowan stated that a video is being shown at Rugby School Design & Technology Centre at 3pm on Thursday 24th February to raise awareness of Distraction Burglaries. Jack pointed out that Rugby School is not totally accessible to wheelchair users.

ACTION: Harry Mossop will bring the video to be brought to the RDF as part of a presentation at the next meeting.

Cattle Market. Paul Collette stated that this is his patch and agreed to feed back into the council that broken glass is a constant problem in this area as is the pavement along Railway Terrace.

 

Portugese Café – Derek raised that the ramp used is far too steep but they are very helpful and have made a lot of effort. Jack cited examples where banks have been enabled to.

Rendevous Café - have had a ramp made locally and the owner opens his side door to enable access.

La Margherita – Jack stated that they were very helpful on his last visit and recently set out a table very close to the door which made access much easier.

Style Wine Bar– Paul raised that this new bar does not appear very accessible – Jack concurred that access is problematic. The forum may wish to tackle this in some way.

Community Education Council application forms were passed to Steve Bunyan by Martin Eversfield to cover some costs of the group.

Action: Steve to report back to the Forum at the next meeting.

Next Meeting 29th March at 10 am @ Hamilton House

 

 

Page last updated: August 9, 2005