Town of Bassendean: Minutes
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TOWN OF BASSENDEAN
MINUTES
ACCESS & INCLUSION COMMITTEE MEETING
HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, 48 OLD PERTH ROAD, BASSENDEAN
ON WEDNESDAY 4 JUNE 2008 AT 10.00 AM
1.0 DECLARATION OF OPENING/ANNOUNCEMENT OF VISITORS
The Presiding Member, Mrs Roslyn Munday, declared the meeting open and welcomed all those in attendance.
2.0 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Nil
3.0 ATTENDANCES, APOLOGIES AND APPLICATIONS FOR LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Present
Mrs Roslyn Munday (Presiding Member) Community Representative
Her Worship the Mayor, Cr Tina Klein (from 10.30am)
Mr Gary Hall Community Representative
Mr Peter Hall Community Representative
Mrs Lillian Cottingham Community Representative
Mrs Jennifer MacLachlan Community Representative
Mr Stephen Burgess National Disability Advocacy Program
Mr John Otago TADWA
Officers
Mr Phil Baker Manager – Seniors & Disability Services
Mr Travis Moore Recreation Officer – Leisure Services (until 11.08am)
Mrs Cathy Muraszko Minute Secretary
Apologies
Mr Roley McRobert Disability Services Commission
Mr Graeme Haggart Director Community Development
4.0 DEPUTATIONS
Nil
5.0 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
5.1 Minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2008
COMMITTEE/OFFICER RECOMMENDATION – ITEM 5.1
MOVED Mrs MacLachlan, Seconded Mr Peter Hall, that the minutes of the Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee meeting held on 5 March 2008, be confirmed as a true record.
CARRIED
6.0 ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE PRESIDING PERSON WITHOUT DISCUSSION
Nil
7.0 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Nil
8.0 BUSINESS DEFERRED FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
Nil
9.0 REPORTS
9.1 Correspondence to Minister on Collier Road pedestrian crossing
At the last meeting, the Committee agreed that the Town write to the Minister raising concerns that the need for a crossing over the railway line at Collier Road is yet to be addressed, it having previously been raised several times.
A copy of the correspondence was attached.
It was noted that Committee members had not received a copy of the correspondence and accordingly decided to defer this item to the next meeting.
OFFICER RECOMMENDATION – ITEM 9.1
That the report on the correspondence to the Minister on the inadequacy of pedestrian crossing facilities at the at-grade, railway line crossing and Collier Road be received.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION – ITEM 9.1
AIC – 1/06/08 MOVED Mrs MacLachlan, Seconded Mr Gary Hall, that this matter be deferred until the next meeting.
CARRIED
9.2 Instrument of Appointment and Delegation
At the last meeting the Committee sought Council adopt minor changes to the Instrument of Appointment and Delegation such that the Committee is enabled to take a more pro-active role as advocate for consideration for inclusiveness principles at all Council Committees.
The requested amendment has been adopted by Council.
Consideration is sought on the role members propose to provide to Committees of Council to achieve the effective advocate role.
COMMITTEE/OFFICER RECOMMENDATION – ITEM 9.2
AIC – 2/06/08 MOVED Mrs MacLachlan, Seconded Mrs Cottingham, that the report on the amended Instrument of Appointment and Delegation, be received.
CARRIED
9.3 Accessible Public Events
At the last meeting, Committee resolved to ask for consideration be given to having a bus manned by professional people who are able to escort the disabled to public events.
The Manager Seniors and Disability Services investigated options and their feasibility and reported to Committee.
A training module (see training below) is to be delivered to all staff, helpers and volunteers involved in organising and delivering public events in the town.
To aid discussion, a calendar of events to December 2008 was attached to the Agenda.
Following advice from the MSDS that to utilise the Town’s buses outside business hours or on the weekend, could be a problem, the Committee discussed the possibility of the Town acting as a co-ordinator, working with existing agencies and possibly church and social groups to provide transport to public events for their own clients.
COMMITTEE/OFFICER RECOMMENDATION – ITEM 9.3(a)
AIC – 3/06/08 MOVED Mrs Cottingham, Seconded Mr Gary Hall, that the information on accessible public events be received.
CARRIED
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION – ITEM 9.3(b)
AIC – 4/06/08 MOVED Mr Peter Hall, Seconded Mr Gary Hall, that further investigation be conducted into options to transport persons with a disability with the Town to public events and to develop stronger links with community based organizations with the area.
CARRIED
9.4 You’re Welcome
The working party has met on two occasions to address capitalizing on the momentum generated by the “You’re Welcome” initiative and opportunities for funding emergent programs.
Draft correspondence to businesses and a press release have been developed by the MSDS for Committee consideration.
The MSDS presented working group meeting notes and provided a verbal report.
Mrs MacLachlan left the Chamber, the time being 10.34pm and returned at 10.35pm.
Draft correspondence addressed to those already participating in the initiative and those yet to participate, was tabled. Discussion took place and following some fine tuning and amalgamation of some of the wording, the MSDS is to organise the correspondence to be signed by the Mayor.
The Presiding Member advised that she and Messrs Hall would be revisiting businesses already participating to see how they are progressing and will hand the letters out. The Committee will then be updated, following which a Press Release and Certificates of Appreciation can be issued.
A minor amendment was made to the Officer Recommendation as highlighted in bold below.
COMMITTEE/OFFICER RECOMMENDATION – ITEM 9.4(a)
AIC – 5/06/08 MOVED Mrs MacLachlan, Seconded Mr Gary Hall, that the information on the “You’re Welcome” initiative be received and that the correspondence tabled be fine tuned, with some amalgamation of wording between both letters.
CARRIED
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION – ITEM 9.4(b)
AIC – 6/06/08 MOVED Mrs Cottingham, Seconded Mr Gary Hall, that a Press Release on the “Your Welcome” initiative be issued following a revisit to existing participating businesses.
CARRIED
9.5 DAIP Action Plan Implementation
At the last meeting, the Committee resolved to consider the DAIP action plan implementation as a standing agenda item.
The Director Community Development is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the DAIP strategies to overcome barriers and the accomplishment of the six desired DAIP outcomes. The DCD is to report annually on the implementation in the annual report and to forward a revised DAIP to DSC annually by 31 July. This meeting is the last scheduled meeting prior to reporting progress on the plan. Accordingly consideration to providing a progress summary at this meeting was sought.
The MSDS has recently attended a workshop conducted by DSC on the reporting format and provided a verbal report to the meeting.
The MSDS advised that the workshop presentation had been beneficial and given him the opportunity to speak with his peers from other Councils. As a result, it is envisaged that an informal group will meet on a regular basis. Following interest expressed by Mr Burgess, the MSDS undertook to keep him informed.
Following discussion, it was agreed that no change should be made to the existing six desired DAIP outcomes.
COMMITTEE/OFFICER RECOMMENDATION – ITEM 9.5
AIC – 7/06/08 MOVED Mr Peter Hall, Seconded Mr Gary Hall, that progress on the implementation of the Disability Access and Inclusion Plan strategies to overcome barriers against the six desired outcomes be received.
CARRIED
9.6 Active Abilities Program
The Town has recently commenced the Active Abilities physical activity program at the Cyril Jackson Recreation Centre. The program aims to provide members of the community living with a cognitive impairment the opportunity to participate in a physical activity program in a safe and enjoyable environment.
Active Abilities participants include medium to high support needs clients from the Disabilities Services Commission and the Town’s YPD group. The activities included are modified to accommodate the broad range of participant’s needs and abilities. Some of the activities have included: bocce, mini soccer, circuit classes, basketball and multi-sport activities (e.g. flingers).
Currently Active Abilities caters for 16 participants over the course of two sessions held on Thursday and Sunday each week. By splitting the program into two sessions the Town has taken an approach which recognises the broad range of needs of the target group and ensures that the Town is providing a program that best caters for them.
The Town has received positive feedback from both the participants and the carers from the Disability Services Commission and the Town’s YPD group.
Following discussion, it was noted that several Committee Members were unaware of the services offered by YPD and the MSDS agreed to obtain further information and provide an update at the next meeting.
The Recreation Officer, Leisure Services, advised that all Committee Members will be invited to the official launch of the program on a date to be advised.
Mr Burgess suggested that the Disability Services Commission be approached for funding.
COMMITTEE/OFFICER RECOMMENDATION – ITEM 9.6
AIC – 8/06/08 MOVED Mrs MacLachlan, Seconded Mr Burgess, that the report on the Active Abilities program be received.
CARRIED
The Recreation Officer, Leisure Services, left the Chamber, the time being 11.08am and did not return.
9.7 Training Program
E-Qual has been rolling out a training program as follows:
- Managers and Executives conducted on 24 April;
- Corporate Induction for all of organisation conducted on 15 May;
- Councillor Induction to be conducted on 24 June; and
- Accessible Events for event planners, workers and volunteers to be conducted on a date to be advised.
The training conducted to date has been very well received. The lead presenter has been accompanied by Ben Sgherza a sight impaired and Kerry Allan-Zinner mobility impaired (CP) UA consultants.
As the Corporate Induction session involved the customer contact officers of the Town, and in order to remain within the funding parameters, a dedicated Customer Service session will not be provided by E-Qual.
E-Qual will develop three training packages (including PowerPoint slides, handouts and facilitators notes in hard copy and on disc) for the Town to deliver in-house one of which being a Customer Service module.
COMMITTEE/OFFICER RECOMMENDATION – ITEM 9.7
AIC – 9/06/08 MOVED Mrs MacLachlan, Seconded Mrs Cottingham, that the report on the E-Qual Training Program be received.
CARRIED
10.0 PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND RIGHT OF REPLY
Nil
11.0 MOTIONS OF WHICH PREVIOUS NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN
Nil
12.0 ANNOUNCEMENTS OF NOTICES OF MOTION FOR THE NEXT MEETING
Whilst not an announcement of a Notice of Motion, Mr Burgess took this opportunity to thank Council and the SES for their emergency assistance recently involving a aged disabled couple of the Town, which resulted in a positive outcome.
13.0 CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS
Nil
14.0 CLOSURE
The next meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, 3 September 2008, commencing at 10.00am.
There being no further business, the Presiding Member closed the meeting, the time being 11.15am
