RUGBY DISABILITY FORUM

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

Minutes of meeting held at Hamilton House on Tuesday 30th January 2007

Presentation by Bernadette Jacques – Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS)

Bernadette explained the history, that it is a Government initiative and organised by Warwickshire County Council.  Bernadette is responsible for Rugby area although a reorganisation is currently in progress.

What do they do!

– help vulnerable people who do not know how NHS works or have any particular problems when attending hospital.

It is a Community Service which

gives advice and support to patients and carers

PALS Does Not!!

does not deal with complaints about NHS

does not deal with legal enquiries or provide information about benefits

does not give direct medical advice or give advice on private medical care.

PALS is free and confidential giving advice on GP’s, Health Visiting, Dentists, Pharmacies, Opticians, Community Nursing and Learning Difficulties.

The following questions were asked of Bernadette:-

Need to advertise the service – most people do not know of it existence.

Instead of PALS call it by its proper name, which most people will understand.

                                       PALS is on 0800 5872546

David thanked Bernadette for her interesting presentation.

PRESENT

David, John, Mala, Enid, Geoff, Patsy, Daphne, Marion, Brian, Gordon, PA Cooper, Anne, Pat, Tony, Pam, Sue, Derek, Andrew, Martin, Rano Bains.

Welcome and Introduction David welcomed everyone.

Apologies – Jack Lawton, Icilin Johnson, Clem Griffiths.

Correspondence

David read out the letter sent to Jeremy Wright MP requesting some feedback as to what he had done about the local concerns raised at the Disability Debate held last year.  David had a very lengthy reply which explained all the things he has been involved in since the Debate. However none of them had any connection with our disability issues.

National Centre for Independent Living

David explained that he had received a letter from the above requesting help.

If you receive social care they want you to go and visit other people who receive similar help to ask if they are getting value for money.  They will pay £15 per hour.  Pam and Anne are to discuss with David – anyone interested in this should contact David.

Hate Crime

Currently going through the ideas that the Forum members made.  David showed some graphics that have been produced for members to agree/disagree prior to production of A5 ring binder.  Four police forces have signed up to this and will fund the booklet.  All police forces in the country have agreed to use the information when produced.  Rugby Disability Forum are the only disability group to be involved in this initiative.  Members agreed the style and content of the graphics.

Matters Arising

JB explained that any parking facility proposed in the Caldecott Park restoration scheme would not affect current disabled parking spaces at the Town Hall.  John is in discussion with Rebecca as to any additional parking arrangements to give direct access to the park and also what is happening to the existing disabled toilet.

John also had been advised by Jack that there were no takers for the wheelchair and he had given it to a firm for repair/resale.

Reports – Taxis

John read out Jack’s report which is included with these minutes.  Members did not feel that the criteria referred to was not onerous, but essential.

Ribble Prints

Martin advised that he had not made any progress on the petition – this will be done for the next meeting.

David asked that members go to Binley Woods (opposite Speedway Stadium) and run over the Ribble Prints in their car to see how uncomfortable and painful they are.  Martin is collecting names for a petition, and will present it next month.  WCC’s reply to David is that he is the only person to complain about these.

Shopwatch

David asked for a group of people to take this forward.  Derek and Sue Hillman, Pam, Marion, Anne and Geoff all agreed to help with Martin as reserve.

Disabled Parking

New parking regulations in the Town have meant that people within the restricted area can no longer have an area marked on the road for there specific use.  All roads within this area have new double yellow lines (where disabled parking is restricted to 3 hrs.).  David is campaigning for this to be reversed.

Any Other Business

If anyone wants an electric wheelchair David knows someone who is giving one away – contact David.

 

Electric Scooters that can do 8 mph need to be registered with DVLA – cost is £8.00.

Wheelchair Race – where is the DVD? David has it but it needs further work before Rugby School can finish it.  Derek agreed to do this.

 
The Advertiser has published “Rugby Life” however there is no mention of our Forum.  Geoff agreed to contact them and ask why!!

RugbyRace Partnership – we have two members attending Forum to help them to look at their policies/procedures to ensure that everyone is looked at and treated the same.

Low Floor Buses – Anne Clarke reported that a number of members travelled to Wellesbourne Airfield at the request of WCC who were doing experiments on low floor buses.  Unfortunately the low floor bus did not turn up and it was a complete waste of time!David is to complain to Nigel White of WCC who organised this.

  10             Next Meeting : Tuesday 27th February 2007

ACCESSIBLE TAXIS 

Report to Rugby Disability Forum  30 January 2007 from Jack Lawton 

1. ACCESSIBLE TAXIS IN CURRENT OPERATION

The Council states that there are now 7 accessible taxis licensed and operating in the Borough, 2 new accessible taxis having replaced existing taxis in December.

The following list has been supplied by the Council :

Owner Phone No Plate No Type of vehicle

Mr Babar Shahzada 07862220454Plate 44 Peugeut E7

Mr Alvin South 01788575757 Plate 49 Peugeot E7

Mr Kerry Jackson 07724174280 Plate 43 Peugeot E7

Mrs Sajida Farooq 01788574355 Plate 48 London Taxi TXI

Mr Farakh Nawaz 07814916688 Plate 17 Metrocab

Mr Farakh Nawaz 07814916688Plate 46 London Taxi TXI

Mr Brian Brazier 07763013427 Plate 45 Metrocab

2. FUTURE  LICENSING  Issue of Five new Plates for Accessible TaxisFurther to previous reports, the last to the November meeting, the Council has now published a notice in the Rugby Observer of 11 January stating that it is to issue 5 new  Hackney Carriage Licences and that it is intended to issue 4 of these during 2007 and the 5th during 2008. Applications are invited to be submitted by 12 February 2007.

The criteria against which applications will be judged include:

Vehicle to be new at time of issue of licence

-     Drivers to be formally trained in assisting disabled people and handling    wheelchairs / scooters and wheelchair users.

It may be that the criteria may be regarded as so specific and so onerousas to discourage potential applicants.

2.2 Future Taxi Licensing Policy

The Council officers are still proposing to start in the next few months a review of the Council’s taxi licensing policy with a view to moving towards all licensed taxis being accessible.