Minutes of Disability Strategic Advisory Panel

Disability Strategic Advisory Panel

18 August 2014

1 Apologies

Resolution number DIS/2014/59

MOVED by Chairperson H Hickey, seconded by Deputy Chairperson CB Brown:

That the Disability Strategic Advisory Panel:

a) accept the apologies from Members S Budd, C Lansink and D McKenzie for absence and from Councillor S Stewart for lateness and early departure.

CARRIED

2 Declaration of Interest

Members are reminded of the need to be vigilant to stand aside from decision making when a conflict arises between their role as a member and any private or other external interest they might have.

There were no declarations of interest.

3 Confirmation of Minutes

Resolution number DIS/2014/60

MOVED by Deputy Chairperson CB Brown, seconded by Member T O'Neill:

That the Disability Strategic Advisory Panel:

a) confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting held on Monday, 21 July 2014 as a true and correct record.

CARRIED

4 Extraordinary Business

There was no extraordinary business.

Cr Sharon Stewart entered the meeting at 11.30am.

5	Arts Access Aotearoa
	Richard Benge, Executive Director, Arts Access Aotearoa attended and provided a presentation. A copy of the presentation has been placed on the official copy of the minutes and can be viewed on the Auckland Council website as a minutes attachment. Comments from members in response to the presentation included the following: David Hughes – ticket pricing is a problem with expensive seats close to the action and cheapest seats at the top of stairs causing access difficulties for some people with disabilities (Richard referred to a Companion Card from Australia that enables a carer to attend without additional payment - his organisation is negotiating with the Government to introduce this to New Zealand). Huhana Hickey – people with disabilities experience problems with Ticketek (Richard said he’s working with Ticketek). Colleen Brown – for people with disabilities it’s the whole journey experience not just the show at the end. Ezekiel Robson – children and young people also need access. Tania Kingi – the audience for Richard’s presentation should be the non-disabled community. Maori people with disabilities think differently.
	Resolution number DIS/2014/61 MOVED by Chairperson H Hickey, seconded by Deputy Chairperson CB Brown: That the Disability Strategic Advisory Panel: a) thank Richard Benge for the update on progress that Arts Access Aotearoa has made in Auckland over the last year. b) recommend that the appropriate council department work with Arts Access Aotearoa on ways to secure funding for that organisation. CARRIED
	Attachments a Presentation

Auckland Council Inclusive Employment Forum

Kevin Wright introduced this item in the absence of Martine Abel.

Resolution number DIS/2014/62

MOVED by Chairperson H Hickey, seconded by Member S Sherrard:

That the Disability Strategic Advisory Panel:

a) request member Colleen Brown to talk with Martine Abel about the Panel’s involvement in the Auckland Council Inclusive Employment Forum and keep Panel members informed of the outcome.

CARRIED

Cr Sharon Stewart left the meeting at 11.30am.

Access for persons with disabilities to and within buildings

Peter King, Senior Technical Specialist Policy, Building Control attended and provided a verbal update on the circumstances behind a recent consent which was granted for a new ANZ Bank branch at 45 Queen Street, Auckland. Peter answered questions from members and also identified the action he was taking to resolve the issues.

Resolution number DIS/2014/63

MOVED by Chairperson H Hickey, seconded by Member S Sherrard:

That the Disability Strategic Advisory Panel:

a) thank Peter King for his attendance and verbal responses and request a written response to the access questions raised in relation to the specific building consent.

b) highlight that the situation at 45 Queen Street, Auckland is an example of the existing Building Code not ensuring adequate access for people with disabilities.

c) request the following actions:

i) support a more robust checklist to be developed by building consent staff.

ii) support Council’s submission to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment regarding the Building Code review noting that the current legislation is not fit for purpose in terms of alterations to buildings to make them fully accessible.

iii) reiterate to Council the value of maintaining resources within Building Consents to address these types of access issues, including education of architects.

iv) ensure that inspectors include sufficient time to inspect building accessibility, particularly at the early stages.

v) provide a copy of these resolutions to all Councillors.

CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 12.45pm and reconvened at 1.15pm.

Draft Community Facilities Network Plan

Anita Coy-Macken, Principal Policy Analyst-Central and Linda Greenalgh, Principal Policy Analyst attended and provided a verbal presentation.

Comments from members in response to the presentation included the following:

Colleen Brown – referred to paragraphs 3.3 and 3.4 of the Plan as well as paragraph 5.1 regarding affordability issues for people with disabilities. She indicated that strong guiding principles need to inform the Plan and that issues like transport to facilities need to be considered.
Tania Kingi – questioned how our strategic advice translates into performance measures for operational staff. Referred to facility sharing using Council premises and cited an example of Hamilton which has a hub set-up.
Ezekiel Robson – asked if the Plan covered beaches and forests i.e. barbeques and picnic spaces – these are not covered in the Plan. Suggested that an access audit should be performed on all facilities before they receive approval by the Regional Strategy and Policy Committee.

It was agreed that the notes taken by staff at the meeting would be provided to members Colleen Brown and Ezekiel Robson who would frame the Panel’s written feedback.

Resolution number DIS/2014/64

MOVED by Chairperson H Hickey, seconded by Deputy Chairperson CB Brown:

That the Disability Strategic Advisory Panel:

a) provide written feedback on the draft Community Facilities Network Plan which will guide council’s provision of community facilities.

CARRIED

9	Transport Update
	Martine Abel was sick and there was no transport update.

Access to MRI Limited clinic in south Auckland

Resolution number DIS/2014/65

MOVED by Chairperson H Hickey, seconded by Deputy Chairperson CB Brown:

That the Disability Strategic Advisory Panel:

a) receive the update about limited access to the MRI Limited facility in south Auckland.

CARRIED

Review of Membership

Bruce Thomas, Principal Advisor Panels introduced this item and it was agreed that the Panel would meet in September 2014 as scheduled.

Resolution number DIS/2014/66

MOVED by Chairperson H Hickey, seconded by Member D Hughes:

That the Disability Strategic Advisory Panel:

a) receive the verbal update of the proposed selection process for appointment of members of the Panel.

CARRIED

12	Chairperson's report
	A copy of the Chairperson’s report, which was tabled at the meeting, has been placed on the official copy of the minutes and can be viewed on the Auckland Council website as a minutes attachment. As this was the last meeting for member Dr Terry O’Neill, the Chairperson acknowledged that Terry had been one of the original members of the Panel and thanked him for his contribution adding that his input would be missed.
	Resolution number DIS/2014/67 MOVED by Chairperson H Hickey, seconded by Member S Sherrard: That the Disability Strategic Advisory Panel: a) receive the Chairperson’s report. b) acknowledge the contribution made by member Dr Terry O’Neill as this was his last meeting. CARRIED
	Attachments a Chairperson's report

General Business

Members raised the following items of general business:

Ezekiel Robson – received confirmation from the Lead Officer Support that the Panel’s feedback on the draft Local Alcohol Policy had been submitted. Requested that the Panel endorse submissions from various individuals and organisations in respect of the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan as discussed at the meeting on 21 July 2014.
Tania Kingi – asked whether minutes of Panel meetings were circulated to Councillors and whether quarterly reporting to the Governing Body would resume as happened in the first term. The Democracy Advisor undertook to circulate copies of the minutes to Councillors and to request the Principal Advisor Panels to pursue the possibility of quarterly reporting to the Governing Body.

Resolution number DIS/2014/68

MOVED by Chairperson H Hickey, seconded by Member D Hughes:

That the Disability Strategic Advisory Panel:

a) request the Lead Officer Support to circulate submissions to the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan from Don McKenzie, Susan Sherrard on behalf of CCS Disability Action, Blind Foundation, Blind Citizens and Riders for the Disabled to Council staff noting that the Panel supports the substance of those submissions and requests that Council endorse them.

b) request the Democracy Advisor to circulate copies of the minutes of the Disability Strategic Advisory Panel meetings to all Councillors.

CARRIED

14 Consideration of Extraordinary Items

There was no consideration of extraordinary items.

2.05 pm The Chairperson thanked Members for their attendance and attention to business and declared the meeting closed.

CONFIRMED AS A TRUE AND CORRECT RECORD AT A MEETING OF THE Disability Strategic Advisory Panel HELD ON

DATE:.........................................................................

CHAIRPERSON:........................................................

Chairperson	Dr Huhana Hickey
Deputy Chairperson	Colleen Brown, MNZM, JP
Members	David Hughes
	Tania Kingi
	Dr Terry O'Neill
	Ezekiel Robson
	Susan Sherrard
Liaison Councillor	Sharon Stewart, QSM	From 11.30am, Item 5 until 12.05pm, Item 6