Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Safer, Stronger Communities

Forward Plan Ref: : 2009/195

Contact: Adrian Harper-Smith, Corporate Strategies Manager (01865 323960)

Report by: Assistant Chief Executive (Strategy) (CA11)

Oxfordshire County Council is committed to ensuring ‘real choice’; recognition that residents have a right to expect services that are shaped to meet their needs and are fair, timely and accessible. We aim to achieve this by recognising the differing circumstances of the local population, by listening to their views and by developing appropriate and innovative solutions.

The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 places a statutory general duty on public authorities to promote disability equality in carrying out their functions; and specific duties including the requirement to publish a revised Disability Equality Scheme every three years. On 21 November 2006, Cabinet agreed Oxfordshire County Council's first Disability Equality Scheme and this is therefore now due to be revised.

The proposed new Disability Equality Scheme includes priorities developed through the involvement of disabled people, as follows:

•        Improving our understanding of disabled people and demonstrating positive attitudes towards them to ensure that we deliver excellent customer service;

•        Ensuring that our communications and engagement activities are accessible to disabled people and that disabled people feel that their views are being listened to and taken into account when decisions are made;

•        Making our buildings and sites more accessible to disabled people, improving highways, public transport and services to address their needs and promoting independent living; and

•        Improving the skills, qualifications and employment opportunities for disabled people and improving the representation of disabled people at all levels in our workforce, ensuring that appropriate reasonable adjustments are made..

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)               agree the revised Disability Equality Scheme (Annex 1 of this report); and

(b)              agree the revised 3-Year rolling schedule of statutory Equality Impact Assessments (Annex 2 of this report).

Cabinet considered the proposed new Disability Equality Scheme.

The Cabinet Member for Safer & Stronger Communities stressed that the Council’s commitment went beyond the statutory duty with high standards being set for the equal treatment of all. All the priorities had targets and outcome dates set out in the Delivery Plan. She highlighted the disability awareness training being delivered for bus drivers.

RESOLVED:             to:

(a)               agree the revised Disability Equality Scheme (Annex 1 of the report); and

(b)       agree the revised 3-Year rolling schedule of statutory Equality Impact Assessments (Annex 2 of the report).