Part 1 (Open to the public)
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REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND PLANNING
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TO THE LEAD MEMBERS FOR PROPERTY AND CUSTOMER AND SUPPORT
SERVICES ON 2nd JULY 2007
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TITLE: DDA building improvement programme 2007/08
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RECOMMENDATIONS: That;
1. Lead Member for Property approves the revised building improvement programme
for 2007/08 as set out in appendix 1, and notes the improvements to process
proposed.
2. Lead Member for Customer and Support Services notes that the £200,000 DDA
improvement allocation in the 2007/08 capital programme will be used to improve
disabled access to the buildings set out in the 2007/08 element of the building
improvement programme.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This report sets out a proposed programme of works to
improve access to public access buildings using the £200,000 allocated in the
2007/08 capital programme for this purpose. This programme was produced after
consultation with service managers and is recommended for approval.
The report also sets out improvements to the process of identifying and delivering the
necessary works.
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BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS: DDA Access Audits
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ASSESSMENT OF RISK:
Low
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Capital Programme 2007/08
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LEGAL IMPLICATIONS: Undertaking works in this Programme will assist the council
in meeting its legal obligations under Disability Discrimination legislation to make its
services accessible to people with disabilities.
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FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Funding to undertake the DDA programme of works is
allocated in the 2007/08 capital programme. Urban Vision has provided some
preliminary advice regarding costings to enable this year’s programme to be
developed.
COMMUNICATION IMPLICATIONS:
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N/A
VALUE FOR MONEY IMPLICATIONS: The Council is required to carry out works
under DDA legislation and where possible these work are carried out in conjunction
with other schemes, which are in some cases part funded from other sources. Where
the cost of securing DDA compliance in buildings is considered to be uneconomic,
these buildings may be vacated and disposed of to reduce DDA liabilities.
CLIENT IMPLICATIONS:
N/A
PROPERTY:
N/A
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HUMAN RESOURCES: Urban Vision to deliver the programme.
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CONTACT OFFICER:
Mr Russ Nutter Ext 2321
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WARD(S) TO WHICH REPORT RELATE(S): All
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KEY COUNCIL POLICIES:
Compliance with DDA legislation
Improving BVPI 156
Social Inclusion
Access to services
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DETAILS:
1.0 Background
1.1 The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 came into force on 1st October 2004.
Amongst other things, the Act affects all service providers and requires them to
make “reasonable adjustments“ to remove barriers and enable disabled people to
access services.
1.2 The City Council established DDA Action Plans for each key service area. The
Action Plans detail the changes to policy, practice and procedures by providing
auxiliary services or aids to comply with the act and the physical alterations
required to the built environment.
1.3 The council has allocated £200,000 in the capital programme for 2007/08 to
continue to fund the DDA improvements to public access buildings. In addition
there is a carry forward from the 2006/07 funding allocation that is sufficient to
cover the cost of several uncompleted schemes.
1.4 It is proposed that as in last years budget, out of the funding allocated for
2007/08, £20,000 will be held to cover fees for all the schemes, if required.
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2.0 Building Improvement Programme
2.1 A review of the five-year programme has been carried out with the help of all
service providers and the following issues have been considered: The completion of DDA works to properties from previous years of the
programme.
A review of the prioritisation of properties within the remaining three years of
the five-year programme.
The carrying out of additional minor works to properties already deemed
compliant.
The inclusion of non-public access properties into the programme.
2.2 Priority has been given to properties in the first two categories and the revised
2007/08 programme is set out in appendix 1.
2.3 At this stage the programme has not yet been fully costed. As full surveys are
carried out and detailed costings are provided the programme may require
adjustments and it may be possible to include works to properties in categories 3
and 4.
3.0 Current Performance
3.1 Progress towards fulfilling the authority’s legal requirements under the DDA
legislation in respect of public access buildings is monitored through the
Corporate Health Best Value PI 156, ‘percentage of buildings accessible for
disabled people’.
3.2 As of the 31 March 2007, 54 of the authority’s 104 public access buildings, or
51.92%, were deemed to be BVPI 156 compliant. This figure is ahead of the
authority’s target of 46% for March 2007 and is close to the target of 55% for
March 2008.
4.0 Review of performance and compliance
4.1 At the Lead Member for Planning meeting on the 11th September 2006 approval
was given to the appointment of an Independent Inspector to undertake surveys
of two buildings where DDA works had been carried out to ensure that they were
fully compliant. This was undertaken to provide assurance that the council’s
approach and works programme was allowing it to fulfil its obligations under DDA
legislation and that the correct assessment of BVPI 156 compliance data was
taking place.
4.2 The Inspector advised that, whilst the significant physical building works had
been satisfactorily undertaken, there were deficiencies in certain areas such as
signage and the clear approach to buildings.
4.3 Officers have considered the inspectors report and consider that an
improvement to the council’s processes is required as follows:

The process of identifying the necessary works can be improved through the
inspection and identification process strictly following the guidelines originally
produced by the former Personnel Directorate

The relevant service manager for each scheme should take responsibility for
agreeing the necessary works, in association with any changes in the way the
service is delivered. (Currently responsibility is not clear)
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
If the relevant service manager needs additional expert advice (and a lack of
expertise is recognised as an issue) this should be provided. The cost would
need to be met from the DDA budget.
5.0 Consultation with the Disability Forum
5.1 It is considered that to meet equality and diversity expectations and requirements
it has been recognised that consultation with people with disabilities may improve
outcomes. Currently, the Equal Opportunities Forum is advised of the council’s
DDA programme only. It is considered that more active involvement may be
beneficial.
5.2 It is therefore proposed that consideration is given to agreeing an appropriate
consultation process.
6.0 Conclusions
6.1 Approval of the programme will enable a further series of improvements to take
place.
6.2 The advice provided by the external consultants is being reflected in
improvements to process outlined above and should provide improved outcomes
for service users.
Malcolm Sykes
Strategic Director Housing and Planning
Mike Bleese
Head of Human Resources
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APPENDIX 1: - DDA BUILDING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME 2007/08
Updated by Russ Nutter on 18th June 2007
Schemes carrying forward from 2006/07
and in progress
Ctte
Assetgrp
Address
bldg
H&P
CS
ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING
ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING
CIVIC CENTRE CHORLEY ROAD SWINTON
MINERVA HOUSE PENDLEBURY ROAD, SWINTON
CH&SC
ES
CH&SC
LIBRARY
MISCELLANEOUS CIVIC ACC
RECREATION CENTRE
IRLAM LIBRARY HURST FOLD FIDDLERS LANE
WORSLEY COURT HOUSE WORSLEY ROAD WORSLEY
ECCLES REC CENTRE BARTON LANE ECCLES
TREASURY
MINERVA HOUSE OFFICE
BUILDING
LIBRARY
WORSLEY COURT HOUSE
ECCLES RECREATION CENTRE
IRLAM COMMUNITY CNTR FERRYHILL RD IRLAM
IRLAM COMMUNITY CENTRE
OPPORTUNITIES CTRE CHURCHILL WAY SALF. 6
LITTLE HULTON LIBRARY LONGSHAW DRIVE LH
45, HANKINSON WAY, SALFORD PRECINCT
OPPORT.CNTR.
LIBRARY
PROPERTY SHOP
£2,500
£5,000
£30,000
£5,500
BRIERLEY HOUSE LONGSHAW DR LITTLE HULTON
AGECROFT CREMATORIUM LANGLEY RD SALFORD
AGECROFT CEM LODGE LANGLEY RD SALFORD
OASIS 21 SILK STREET SALFORD 3
WESTWOOD CENTRE GRASMERE CRES ECCLES
WINGATE RD FAMILY CNTR 31 WINGATE RD WOR
JUBILEE HOUSE 51 CRESCENT SALFORD 5
SALFORD MUSEUM ART GALLERY CRESCENT S3
BANQUETING HALL BUILE HILL PARK WEASTE
BLACKLEACH COUNTRY PARK WORSLEY RD NRTH
PENDLEBURY REC CENTRE CROMWELL RD PENDLY
ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING
CREMATORIUM
LODGE 1 (NORTH)
YOUTH CLUB
COMMUNITY CENTRE
WINGATES FAMILY CENTRE
WORKING CLASS MUSEUM
MUSEUM PEEL PARK
BANQUETING HALL
VISITORS CENTRE
PENDLEBURY REC. CENTRE
£5,000
£20,000
£11,100
£10,000
£15,000
£1,400
£5,000
£5,000
£5,000
£5,000
£32,200
Schemes carrying forward from 2006/07
and not yet in progress
CH&SC
COMMUNITY CENTRE
H&P
IND COM BUILDINGS
CH&SC
LIBRARY
H&P
PROPERTY SHOP
2007/08
CS
ES
ES
CS
CH&SC
CH&SC
CH&SC
CH&SC
ES
ES
CS
ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING
CEMETERIES
CEMETERIES
CIVIC YOUTH CENTRE
COMMUNITY CENTRE
DAY CARE FACILITIES
LIBRARY
MUSEUM
PARK/ BUILDING
PARK/ BUILDING
RECREATION CENTRE
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Total DDA
Cost
£24,000
£30,000
£24,000
£10,000
£91,500
ES
CH&SC
RECREATION FACILITY
RECREATION FACILITY
Compliant Properties requiring minor
additional work in 2007/08
CH&SC
LIBRARY
CH&SC
LIBRARY
CH&SC
LIBRARY
CH&SC
LIBRARY
FALSE
CEMETERIES
CH&SC
HO
CS
HO
COMMUNITY CENTRE
ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING
CIVIC YOUTH CENTRE
ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING
LAND AT ALBERT PK ALBERT PK RD SALFORD 8
NEW WATERSPORTS CENTRE - 18 THE QUAYS SALF 5
CHANGING ROOMS
NEW WATERSPORTS CENTRE
£1,000
£10,000
£125,700
CADISHEAD LIBRARY 126 LIVERPOOL RD CAD
HEIGHT LIBRARY KING STREET SALFORD
WORSLEY VILLAGE LIBRARY WORSLEY RD WORS
WINTON LIBRARY OLD PARRIN LANE WINTON
ECCLES CEMETERY LODGE 716 LIVERPOOL ROAD
ECCLES
BOOTHSTOWN COMM CTR STANDFIELD DR BTOWN
ORDSALL NEIGHBRHD OFFCE 2 ROBERT HALL ST
BEACON RESOURCE CENT., LONDON ST., SALFORD
VARIOUS
LIBRARY
LIBRARY
LIBRARY
LIBRARY
LODGE ADMINISTRATION BLDG
£1,000
£1,500
£1,000
£1,500
£10,000
COMMUNITY CENTRE & LIBRARY
ORDSALL NEIGH. OFF. & LIBRARY
YOUTH CLUB
Area Housing Office
£1,000
£1,000
£10,000
£6,300
£33,300
VETS PAVILLION
£23,259
Properties where DDA works are ongoing but are not public access
ES
PARK/BUILDING
VICTORIA PK MANCHESTER RD SWIN
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