Agenda item

The Panel considered a report that set out the work and recommendations of the Disability Task and Finish Group.

Colin Pill, who had chaired the Task & Finish Group, summarised the background, work undertaken and key recommendations of the group as detailed in Appendix A to the report.  It was noted that there were approximately 9,400 people with physical disabilities in Slough and the group had looked into all aspects of accessibility.  Meetings had been held with SBC officers responsible for transport, taxi licensing, leisure, planning and highways, and external bodies such as AccessAble, who were providers of the new Slough Online Disability Access Guide, and Healthwatch.  This work had resulted in seven recommendations, as at paragraph 5.3 of the report, and a range of specific actions to support each recommendation.  A more comprehensive action plan would be developed if the headline recommendations were approved.  These actions would then be subject to the appropriate financial and risk assessments before being referred to Cabinet.

The Panel commended the chair and members of the Task & Finish Group and commented that the review had been undertaken in an open and positive manner and that the recommendations could help Slough become more of a ‘disability friendly town’.  The report and recommendations were approved and Members discussed the next steps.  The Panel emphasised the importance of ensuring the actions were sufficiently clear and costed to ensure they could be implemented, measured and tracked.  After discussion, it was therefore agreed that the Task & Finish Group would continue work to finalise the action plan which would be brought back to the Health Scrutiny Panel on 27^th June 2019 with a view to it being recommended to Cabinet on 15^th July 2019.

Members unanimously agreed a vote of thanks to members of the group, particularly Colin Pill for chairing it and producing such a comprehensive report.

Resolved –

(a)  That the recommendations of the Disability Task & Finish Group as detailed in section 5.3 of the report and at Appendix A be approved.

(b)  That further work be undertaken to finalise the Action Plan, including for recommendations with financial implications, and that the Action Plan be brought back to the Panel on 27^th June for consideration with a view to recommending to Cabinet on 17^th July 2019.

(c)  That a Vote of Thanks be given to members of the Task & Finish Group for the work it had undertaken.