Minutes of the Inclusion
& Access Advisory Group
Meeting Date: Monday, 20 February
2023
Location: Jervis
Bay Room, Level 3, City Administrative Building, Bridge Road, Nowra
Time: 11.00am
The following members were present or attended remotely:
Clr Liza Butler – Chairperson
Clr Tonia Gray (Remotely) – left at 11.55am
Ms Jackie Kay (Remotely)
Ms Annette Pham
Ms Kylie Knight
Ms Penelope Espinoza Hallett (Remotely)
Ms Jennifer Anstiss
Ms Kylieanne Derwent (Remotely)
Others present:
Mr Michael Paine – Manager Community Connections
Gary George – Manager Building Services (Remotely)
Ms Caitlin Lewis – Manager Media & Communications
Ms Monica Kincade Community Capacity Builder
Apologies were received from Clr
White Clr Norris, Clr Kotlash, Mr Arthur Ball, Mr Chris Mitchell, Mr Frederick
Oberg and Ms Lily Wright.
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Confirmation of the Minutes
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The following matters were raised
in the Previous Minutes:
·
Pruning/Maintenance – Meroo Road, Bomaderry and surrounds
and the collaboration with Disability workers. This will be addressed in a
separate item, see Additional Item IA23.8.
·
Access to various shops in Junction Street, Nowra. This will be
addressed as part of Action IA22.15.
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RESOLVED (Jennifer Anstiss / Liza Butler)
That the Minutes of the Inclusion
& Access Advisory Group held on Monday 21 November 2022 be confirmed.
CARRIED
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Nil
Presentations
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IA23.1 Draft Community
Engagement Strategy Presentation
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HPERM Ref: D23/24239
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The Media and Communications Team from
Shoalhaven City Council presented the Draft Community Engagement Strategy to
the Inclusion and Access Advisory Group.
Members
present provided feedback including the need for Plain or Easy English and
this was noted by Ms Caitlin Lewis – Manager – Media &
Communications who wishes to attend meetings of the Group to ensure the
members are aware of documents on Public Exhibition.
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Reports
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IA23.2 IAAG
Updated Action Table Report - February 2023
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HPERM Ref: D23/29309
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The following comments were made
in relation to items on the Action Table:
·
IA21.24 – Staff provided a verbal update which was read
to the meeting – This is now considered complete, no further action is
required.
·
IA22.15 - Additional Item - Funding Program for Accessibility
to Shops - Clr Briefing & Presentation to Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy
Committee - Education campaign – Businesses – Update is provided
within the report.
·
IA22.20 - Presentation - North Mollymook Masterplan (Parking
& Pedestrian) – This is now considered complete, the report was
sent. No report back regarding feedback has been received.
·
IA22.21 - Additional Item - Accessibility to Shops - Nowra CBD
– Mr Michael Paine advised that he will discuss this matter with Colin
Wood – Compliance Manager
·
IA22.22 - Additional Item - Accessibility Stickers - Cobar CBD
– Ongoing, no comment provided
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Recommendation (Item to
be determined under delegated authority)
That the Inclusion & Access Advisory Group:
1. Receive the Update on Actions report for
information.
2. Acknowledge the following actions as completed
and be removed from the action table:
a. IA22.20 - Presentation - Ryleigh Bowman - North
Mollymook Masterplan (Parking & Pedestrian) – partial completion.
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RESOLVED (By consent)
That the Inclusion & Access Advisory Group:
1.
Receive the Update on Actions report for information.
2.
Acknowledge the following actions as completed and be removed from the
action table:
a.
IA22.20 - Presentation - North Mollymook Masterplan (Parking &
Pedestrian) – partial completion.
b.
IA21.24 - Inclusion & Access Advisory Committee - Additional Item
- Accessible parking spaces - Yellow Metal Bollards replacement / flexible
poles - Investigation
CARRIED
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IA23.5 Additional
Item - Farmgate Restaurant - Lift and Accessible Parking
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Prior to leaving the meeting, Clr Gray raised
the following matter, however no recommendation/resolution was made.
It was suggested up to two (2)
accessible parking spaces on Graham Street near the new Farmgate Restaurant
should be discussed as well as the requirement to install a lift at the front
of the shop in addition to the parking space and ramp at the rear of the
building.
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Note: Clr Gray left the meeting at 11.55am.
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IA23.3 Inclusion
and Access Advisory Committee Terms of Reference Review
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HPERM Ref: D23/19271
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Note: Staff presented the draft changes
to the Terms of Reference and the members present provided feedback in
relation to:
·
Changes to the Membership
·
Range of Disabilities
·
Over half of the voting membership has a disability
It was noted that staff will
amend the Terms of Reference and report to Council, it was reiterated that
upon adoption of the Terms of Reference, the membership would be declared
vacant and any current members would need to reapply should they wish to
continue as part of the EOI process.
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Recommendation
That the
Inclusion and Access Advisory Group accept the new format and proposed
amendments to the Terms of Reference and submit to Council for adoption.
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REcommendation (By consent)
That the
Inclusion and Access Advisory Group accept the new format and proposed
amendments to the Terms of Reference and submit to Council for adoption.
CARRIED
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GENERAL BUSINESS
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IA23.6 Additional
Item - Request for Information - Revenue Raised from Accessible Parking
Spaces
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Ms Kylie
Knight raised an additional item requesting information on the revenue that
is raised from Accessible Parking Fines with a view to determine how
significant it is & whether that can be reinvested into actioning the
DIAP or other support functions for people with a disability.
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REcommendation (Kylie Knight / Jackie Kay)
That the IAAG
seek council’s endorsement for a report on revenue raised (from the
last Financial Year) from accessible parking fines and the possibility to
consider practical use of the funds to support people with a disability be
provided to the Group.
CARRIED
Directors Note: This
request is outside the scope of the Terms of Reference & therefore
outside of the Committees delegation & requires Council approval for this
to occur.
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IA23.7 Additional
Item - Legality of Mobility Scooters being used on Local Roads
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Ms Kylie
Knight raised a question regarding the legal rights for the use of mobility
scooters on roads.
As this is not
managed by Council, it was suggested that Council invite NSW Police and/or
TfNSW to provide a presentation to the IAAG on the legality of mobility
scooters on Roads.
Mr Michael
Paine - Manager Community Connections, advised that he will reach out to the
Traffic Team within Council and request they provide relevant information Council
is aware of to the IAAG.
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IA23.8 Additional
Item - Request Presentation from Director City Performance
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Ms Kylie
Knight addressed a matter that was raised in the last meeting regarding the
opportunity for Council to collaborate with Disability Workers to achieve the
pruning and maintenance of footpaths and overhanging trees in the Shoalhaven.
It was noted
that this matter was raised in Business Arising from Previous Minutes.
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REcommendation (By consent)
That IAAG seek
Council’s endorsement and invite the newly appointed Director City
Performance (currently vacant at the time of publishing) to make a
presentation in relation to the contract requirements regarding employment
opportunities for Disability Workers to undertake pruning and maintenance of
footpaths and overhanging trees to the IAAG.
CARRIED
Directors Note: This
request is outside the scope of the Terms of Reference and therefore outside
of the Committees delegation and requires Council approval for this to occur.
A similar recommendation has also been previously made by the IAAG as noted
below:
IA21.3 - Investigate
opportunity for targeted employment for people with disabilities:
That:
1. Council investigate the opportunity for
targeted employment within Council for people with identified disabilities.
2. The Inclusion and Access Advisory Group
receive a report back on the statistics of council’s employment.
3. Staff source resource options and budgets
for annual training programs.
Part 1 was reported
back to the Committee via it’s Action Table item noting the following
comment: Staff noted that Council is bound by the Merit based system
process within the Local Government Act.
Part 2 was actioned
26 July 2022 – It was
noted that from 532 employee records and the questions relating to identified
disabilities 216 employees didn’t respond.
Part 3 – This has been addressed in within
the DIAP and was reported back to the Committee with the following comment: Increased
training for staff on disability Awareness is being considered in the review
of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan. The training is proposed access a
number of functions within council to support increased inclusion across the
Shoalhaven for people living with a disability.
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There being no further business, the meeting concluded, the
time being 1.20pm.
Chairperson
Liza Butler
CHAIRPERSON