ERYC January Meeting

I went to watch my first ERYC council meeting last Wednesday.

There’s no wheelchair access to the public gallery so I was put in the main chamber. Unfortunately, the only place accessible in the main chamber is just inside either door, next to a very noisy radiator and without much of a view, so it was quite difficult to follow what was happening.

I did catch enough of the debate on disability consultation to hear Cllr Felicity Temple state that the council worked hard to ensure that there is no discrimination. It was then shocking to hear at least two of the following Conservative members get up and talk about ‘The Disabled’ as if we were a different species.

Councillor Andy Strangeway’s report on the motion, ‘Absurd Council Vote of the Century’ is here

Cath Scarlett

Dropped Kerbs

A fundamental requirement for disability access is dropped kerbs. ERYC is failing in its duty to provide these in the following towns:

New paving area in Pocklington where ERYC have failed to include ANY dropped kerbs

1. Beverley
2. Bridlington
3. Cottingham
4. Driffield
5. Goole
6. Hessle
7. Hornsea
8. Market Weighton
9. Pocklington  –   Councillor Andy Strangeway
10. Withernsea

We will invite a Ward Member from each of the nine towns currently unrepresented to become a Disability Champion and assist us in our objective to make our towns accessible for disabled people.

Access Officer

A request from disabled residents to ERYC for an access officer 15 years ago was declined and unfortunately the East Riding is still without an access officer.

An Access Officer’s duty is to remove barriers for disabled people.

Funding

Much of the funding required for an Access Officer can be sourced from what tax payers currently pay political parties to undertake their political objectives at County Hall.

We believe that disability funding is more important than providing whips for political parties.

For further information please see the ERYC  website.

Hull City Council

Hull City Council is a fantastic example for ERYC as they have had a dedicated Access Officer for 15 years.

Welcome

Welcome to the East Riding Disability Scrutiny Group.

Following concerns raised at the Disability Advisory Group (DAG) meeting about the ERYC’s commitment to disability access and consultation, Cath Scarlett, Michelle Robb and Cllr Andy Strangeway established the East Riding Disability Scrutiny Group.

Our mission is to hold the East Riding of Yorkshire Council and other East Riding public organisations to account over access and services for disabled people and to offer our help to find solutions so that disabled people in the East Riding are able to lead dignified and full lives; able to access the community in which they live and have the services they need to be able to interact in the community, with the same opportunities to work and socialise as non-disabled people have.

The fundamental objective of the East Riding Disability Scrutiny Group is to remove barriers for disabled people.

Currently our aims are:

1. Dropped Kerbs – 27th November 2016
2. Access Officer – 27th November 2016