Case Study - Relationship with the Local Authority

South Ayrshire Access Panel

South Ayrshire Access Panel was set up around 1982, by Building Control of the Council (then Kyle and Carrick district council).� It was set up in response to the request from the Scottish Office, and an Access Officer post was created at the same time.� The councils Access Officer is the link between the council and the disabled community and assists the Panel in arranging meetings.

The Panel feel that they have had great support over the years from the council and have used their experience to help councils in other areas to set up Panels.� They do not undertake formal access auditing; they will give an opinion if asked, but feel that they are not adequately qualified. �

The Panel members do not think they would be able to manage without the support of the council, as they assist the Panel in a variety of backroom work i.e. production of leaflets, production and circulation of minutes and administration.� They also provide meeting space for the Panel.

A local councillor also attends Panel meetings regularly and provides assistance to the Panel in its work.� He is able to help the Panel find the right people to go to for any specific issue.� The Panel used to have a representative from the Social Services department but due to staffing issues, are now unable to send a representative.� The Panel have tried to have this rectified but to no avail.�

It is felt amongst Panel members that if the personnel of the council were to change, the Panel might not be as supported as they are at present.� They feel that they have a rapport with existing staff and that new staff might not be as sympathetic, or as willing to help.

There is no written agreement between the Panel and the council although the Panels’ constitution does specify that an Access Officer from the council will attend meetings.� There is however a funding agreement; the Panel applies each year for a small amount of funding, usually around �500.

The council assists the Panel with campaigns by helping to produce materials e.g. Pavements are for People campaign.� The taxi driver awareness project took a few years to complete due to a variety of issues, including changing personnel in the council and bureaucracy within the council.

There have been very few occasions on which the views of the Panel clash with the views of the council.� The Panel tries to finds ways to resolve this without going head to head.� An example of this is street furniture on the High Street - the Panel holds a different view on this to the Council.� The DDA means that the council has duties which it must carry out; therefore they are more likely to listen to the views of the Panel.

The Access Officer assists the Panel by ensuring they have up to date information with regard to building regulations.� A system is in place, which involves the Panel contacting the architects who design the buildings, and this has had a good effect.� The Access Officer does not hold a vote on the Panel, and is present to provide advice about who to talk to and where to go for information.

The Panel does not have specific plans for the future; it tends to be largely reactive to situations.� However, it does aim to provide improvements to services for disabled people.�

October 2005