Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations made.

There were no announcements.

There were no urgent items.

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 6 November 2019.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 6 November 2019 be approved as a correct record.

To consider any apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Larraine Revah.

Report of Strategy and Change.

This paper aims to review the Disability Oversight Panel’s achievements from 2019/20 and support the Disability Oversight Panel in deciding its priorities and focus for 2020/21. Developing a work plan for the year which enables the Disability Oversight Panel to fulfil its purpose requires a two pronged approach which looks to;

·       Draw on evidence, including the Panel’s engagement work over the past year, to identify big strategic priorities (themes) for disabled people within the borough, which are relevant to all disability groups represented on the panel.

·       Ensure that the panel receives insight from residents with a disability to identify emerging trends and issues which the panel may want to champion on residents behalf.

Consideration was given to the report of Strategy and Change.

In her introduction of the report, the Head of Strategy commented that the report outlined the achievements of the Panel in the past year and gave suggestions to inform the discussion of what the Panel focus on in the next municipal year.

Members felt that the experience of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people with disabilities was an important area on which to focus. The Panel discussed that the attitudes and needs of certain BAME groups could be specific and that it was important to ensure all groups within the community had knowledge of the services and support available to them. The Panel agreed that the focus should be on BAME communities and learning disability for the meeting of the Disability Oversight Panel provisionally scheduled for June.

The Head of Strategy agreed to contact the Cabinet Member for Young people and Cohesion to ascertain which services should be involved in a session focused on BAME communities and learning disability.

Action by: The Head of Strategy

Members decided that they would like to have a session around the topic of mental health as a disability. They expressed concern that figures around suicide had not decreased. The Panel thought that the session to take place on a date close to the 10^th October 2020, this would then coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week.

Action by: Policy Officer

The Panel commented that it would be good to have frontline staff be made aware of mental health issues.

Members also wanted to add illness as a disability to the list of future topics for the Panel to consider.

Action by: Policy Officer

RESOLVED –

THAT the report and recommendations of future topics for the Panel to consider be noted.

Report of Strategy and Change.

This paper aims to support the Disability Oversight Panel in identifying any issues and areas of exploration that it would like to pass to the Joint Chairs of Scrutiny meeting, so that key issues for residents with a disability can be considered for regular inclusion on the agendas of the Council’s formal Scrutiny Committees.

The Disability Oversight Panel is asked to:

·       Consider key areas of focus to recommend to Scrutiny for further exploration. 

Consideration was given to the report of Strategy and Change. The Head of Strategy, who introduced the report, asked Members whether there were any other areas that they felt should be added to the report.

The Panel spoke of the work they had undertaken around accessibility of leisure for people with disabilities. They felt that access of leisure facilities and green spaces should be included in the report.

Members also wanted employment support for disabled people to be included in the report.

RESOLVED –

i)                 THAT the report be noted and;

ii)               THAT the above recommendations made by the Panel are incorporated into the report to scrutiny.

Report of Strategy and Change.

This report provides:

1)    Updates from Commissioners in relation to:

·       Learning Disabilities

·       Children and young people

·       Mental Health

·       Special Educational and Inclusive Intervention Service

·       Carers

2)    Updates, in the form of an action tracker, from previous Disability Oversight Panel meetings.

RESOLVED –

THAT the Commissioners’ updates and Action Tracker be noted.

The Panel are asked to note the dates of future meetings:

·       Wednesday 3 June 2020

·       Tuesday 3 November 2020

·       Wednesday 3 February 2021

Consideration was given to the provisional dates of meetings for the 2020/21 municipal year.

Members asked that the second meeting of the Panel happen on a date close to 10^th October 2020 in order to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week.

Action By: Policy Officer

There was no such business.