MINUTES OF MARRICKVILLE ACCESS COMMITTEE MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY, 8 AUGUST 2013.
CHAIR: Stella FordMINUTE TAKER: Glenn Redmayne
ITEM 1. Housekeeping and introductions
Stella Ford provided a welcome to Country. There were no participants requiring Auslan interpreters however standard protocols including only one person to be speaking at a time remained. The location of toilets and emergency procedures were also outlined.
It was noted that the Agenda was re-ordered and the sequence or items is reflected in the minutes.
ITEM 2. Attendance and Apologies
Present
Clr Rosanna Tyler / Chairperson, CouncillorStella Ford / Manager, Community Development / x2154
Glenn Redmayne / Strategic Community Project Officer, Access & Inclusion / x2074
Kerrie Lorimer / Committee member
Clay Freeman / Committee member
Andrew Longhurst / Committee member
Cheryl Baume / Committee member
Mary O’Sullivan / Resident
Jessica Lobo / Committee member
Rosemin Khan / Resident
Costa Miroforidis / Committee member
Robyn Moore / Coordinator, Social Planning & Policy / x2151
Luigi Signorelli / Community Facilities Assets Coordinator / x2035
Apologies
Clr Melissa Brooks / Allan Pronger / Patrick Bridge / Rikki EckertClr Sylvie Ellsmore / Kevin Smith / Sylvana Mahmic / Monique Dunlop
Joe Di Cesare / Ranji Nadorajah / Ann-Mason Furmage / Jennifer Moon
Carl Wydeman
ITEM 3 Welcome
All new participants were welcomed and invited to briefly introduce themselves.
ITEM 4. Minutes of the Previous Meeting and Business Arising from the Minutes
The minutes were adopted as circulated.
Moved: Kerrie Lorimer
Seconded: Clr. Rosanna Tyler
Actions arising out of the minutes reported as follows:
· Gail Le Bransky - Principal Manager, Accessible and Inclusive Transport | Efficiency and Effectiveness at Transport for NSW has confirmed for the 10 October meeting to talk about her program.
· The Accessible Pathways draft 2013/14 Program has been made available on both the Access and Mobility and Access Committee page of Councils website from 20 June.
· A request to investigate a site on Enmore Rd is underway. No further comments have been received to date on the accessible pathways program.
· It was noted that the request for contact numbers for agencies related to a housing matter concerning tenants in a particular complex. Clay Freeman advised that he had assisted with this matter.
ITEM 5. Orientation to Council and Council Structure
The Manager, Governance was unable to attend the meeting due to illness. They had intended to give an orientation to Council processes, governance and code of conduct issues relevant to an advisory committee. Their apology was noted and that orientation deferred till another meeting.
As an introduction to these issues however the Manager, Community Development gave an outline of the “Our Place Our Vision 2023” Marrickville Community Strategic Plan (CSP) and Council structure.
The latest CSP builds on and updates the earlier plan adopted in 2010. Council’s CSP is required to be reviewed with each newly elected Council. The Access Committee had also been consulted on its review. Copies of the new plan were distributed to the Committee.
The CSP vision is very much about a connected, inclusive community and highlights associated community priorities and trends. It provides a good overview on Marrickville and the directions for the local area.
The CSP covers the scope of Councils business, though recommends some actions in partnership with other agencies as determined by their role and any shared responsibilities that may be present.
In respect to Council structure, two aspects were highlighted. The political and governance arm related to the elected Councillors and the administrative arm involving staff that are situated within 4 directorates of Council. These are;
· Community Services
· Development and Planning
· Corporate Services
· Infrastructure Services
A brief account of these directorates and the key aspects that each covers was given. For more details please visit Councils website.
In general, staff provide advice up to governance and then Councillors decide. Councillors can also bring matters up and drive policy, however once governance structures and the budget is set it is unlikely that additional matters will be able to be resourced straight away.
It was noted that one of the current priority areas is footpaths and $800k will be spent on footpath maintenance this year. This will benefit everyone and be of particular assistance to older people, parents with prams and people who use wheelchairs and motorised mobility devices.
It was clarified that the accessible pathways program is limited to the installation of kerb ramps and is funded at $50k per annum. Other programs that have a relationship were identified including the ‘Connecting Marrickville’ program which was suggested to be discussed further at a later meeting.
Council has a number of advisory committees each with a specific focus including the Cooks River Committee, Safety, Youth Council, Marrickville Aboriginal Consultative Committee (MACC) and others. Their role is to give Council advice on strategic issues and opportunities. There is a role in advocacy too where Council can represent community needs and views that arise from advisory committees.
In considering the role of advisory Committees it was clarified that the Committee should avoid discussion of micro or individual issues as these detract from the broader focus and can be addressed through Councils call centre.
If participants have any questions about an issue and where it is best to be located for resolution they were invited to call the SCPO Access and Inclusion and talk it through.
A question was asked regarding the proposed referendum question on funding to local government and if this may affect Marrickville. Clr Tyler explained that it is a broader issue about recognising funding to Councils and assured that Marrickville Council has funding and has (this year) prioritised infrastructure works.
ITEM 6. Key issues from the Committee
The Committee were invited to nominate a key issue or opportunity based on their experience of access and/or disability related need. The aim of the exercise was to share thoughts and identify issues or themes based around the collective experience of the Committee. These will then be assessed to determine if an actual gap exists, how the opportunity aligns with existing policy, law or reform directions and what resources would be required to address them.
Once the assessment has been done it will be brought back to the Committee for review and to determine priorities. These can then be presented to Council to inform existing and new works/programs and budgets. Responses were as follows:
Name / Key issue/opportunityCosta Miroforidis / · Promote good access and go beyond minimum requirements. Work with local businesses to improve access.
Kerrie Lorimer / · Impact of restructures and reforms including DisabilityCare and Age Care services.
· How that may impact on Tom Foster Community Care.
· More (general) access needed to more places for older people and people with a disability to go to for activities.
Mary O’Sullivan / · Largest practical impediment (to access) is the resistance of developers to providing access features due to their economic perspective.
· This (cost argument) is used as a consistent barrier, a tipping point that if required meant the development may not go ahead (view of unjustifiable hardship)
Cheryl Baume / · Low income housing and the fact that most people with a disability are on low incomes. Therefore affordability of housing is a big issue for them.
· Access to buildings.
· Accessible businesses, getting up the one large step is a common barrier
Clay Freeman / · No direct issues.
· Interest in planning opportunities at the local level.
· Working at (and with) all 3 tiers of government.
· Receiving feedback as we transition to DisabilityCare and addressing information needs and ideas we can use to reduce confusion.
Jessica Lobo / · No direct issues.
· Interest in engaging communities and people.
· Outreaching to emerging communities i.e. Nepalese and then looking at how they are included (as a CALD person with a disability).
· Children with a disability from CALD background accessing childcare services.
Andrew Longhurst / · Engagement with people with a consistent narrative and dialogue to get through to people (about the issues).
· Develop and present the story, to change perspective particularly to business
· Reminded of account on the UK focus and that if you can’t get in the front door – game over.
· Interested in ways to get the story out there.
Rosemin Khan / · Translation and Asian communities understanding of access and having better communications.
· Evaluations - how bad/good is it? What do we know about how many businesses are accessible.
· More than info material needed – get to the roots to educate i.e. Translation.
· Marketing to development industry and housing, promoting accessible units.
· How do you talk to a business, story telling down to basics and good news stories – “this shop now has a ramp”
· Being proud of an inclusive product
· 2021 plans can you link to.
Clr. Rosanna Tyler / · Gathering intelligence. If it is not in your experience you don’t see it.
· Boarding houses, where are the ones with people with a disability and CALD people with a disability in them?
· As people (from CALD backgrounds) age and come out of workforce they stop speaking English so who is around to help?
· Interest in people with an intellectual disability and Down Syndrome.
· Disability Support Pensioners with drug addiction and mental illness need a lot of support
· Partnership with other groups to find where holes are and where we can assist
· Many people from CALD communities responsible for inappropriate care i.e. Greeks who have used exorcisms in attempt to cure schizophrenia
· Ability Forum - dance, art, postcards that showcased talent
· Big kitchen (for older people and people with a disability of any age)
· Inappropriate facilities for people with intellectual disability in nursing homes
· Coordinated information is a big problem to plug
· Handy book of number – directory of citizens advice
· Council as a conduit for information resources. E.g. to let people know to call ambulance not police as ambulance offices are authorised to break in if there is an emergency present
Committee were invited to send any further comments to Glenn Redmayne or Stella Ford.
Action
· SCPO Access and Inclusion to assess comments, identify issues, themes, potential gaps and resources and report back to Committee to review and develop priorities.
ITEM 7 GroovABILITY planning update
The GroovABILITY event to celebrate this year’s International Day of People with a Disability (IDPWD) will be held on 5 December 2013 at Burwood Park. It will involve participation from Councils in the inner west and aims to be the central inner west event attended by people with a disability, carers and non government organisations from across the region.
The event will include activities, musical entertainment and films. A talk is also planned with a focus on self directed services and an update on the DisabilityCare/NDIS program. A speaker is being sought from the Commonwealth Government to cover this topic.
The approach for the event evolved after a time when five different IDPWD events were all happening on the same day. This resulted in duplication and waste of resources as well as competition for the same audience and was thought to be unsustainable.
It is important to regard and promote GroovABILITY then as a combined inner west event and not just a Burwood centred one.
ITEM 8. Supported Employment Businesses in Marrickville
The Committee’s feedback was sought regarding their support on procurement of services from local supported employment services. Specifically it was asked if the employers are good should Council support and direct work towards these agencies?
It was suggested staff contact work experience teachers at Dulwich Hill and Marrickville High school as well as the District Officer at Schools for their views and knowledge.
A committee member expressed concern that (commonly) people are employed in such a business model when they could be in open employment but aren’t encouraged to explore other options. Without such support from employer to pursue other work options they can often remain in that environment and continue to be disadvantaged.
It was also advised that in a supported employment model it is common that award rates are not paid and that also raises concerns and risks that some people could be exploited.
It was acknowledged that not all businesses operate the same and thus must be measured on their individual merit. It was further advised that if Council was considering supporting such an operation the key questions to be asked beforehand were;
· What are the pay rates and do they meet the relevant award?
· What conditions, training and opportunities the employer actually provides?
· Does the employer have an access and equity program and can demonstrate how they have assisted workers into open employment opportunities?
It was suggested that these elements would illustrate how you can best support people into open employment and would also highlight what that means for the employee.
ITEM 9. General Business
After some discussion relating to the NDIS it was suggested that people send questions on the NDIS to Glenn Redmayne to compile and where possible seek answers or a speaker to address the Committee.
Leichhardt Council is holding a consultation/workshop on their DDA Action Plan. As this is next week the flyer will be sent to committee members who are interested.
ITEM 10. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be at 5.45pm on 10 October 2013.
Meeting closed 7.40pm
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