Corporate report

DPTAC Main Committee meeting minutes December 2020

Updated 13 February 2024

12 midday to 3pm, 9 December 2020.

Attendees

DPTAC: Keith Richards (Chair), Will Bee, Chris Price, Tanvi Vyas, Roger Mackett, Dave Partington, Matthew Smith, Sue Sharp, Mike Brace, Sharon Brennan, Niki Glazier, Bryan Matthews, David Mapp, Helen Dolphin, David Chrimes.

Guests: Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) Disability Commission, Chris Heaton Harris (Minister of State), Cabinet Office Disability Unit (CODU), Mobility Access Committee for Scotland (MACS), Transport Scotland.

Welcome and introductions

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies were noted from Jessica Uguccioni.

The Chair asked for disclosure of any conflicts of interest: no conflicts identified.

Director General for Roads Places and Environment

Emma Ward introduced herself. Since joining Emma’s role has focussed on the department’s response to COVID-19. She explained that winter planning is the department’s current focus to respond to the triple impact of COVID-19, the potential for a no-deal Brexit, and the standard winter planning procedures to ensure roads and rail are operational through the winter period.

DPTAC split its advice to Emma Ward into 2 categories; buses, and the pedestrian environment.

DPTAC explained that the Committee raised a number of key ongoing bus related policy workstreams to Emma’s predecessor in November 2019:

• implementing legislation to make audio-visual systems compulsory on buses
• amending the Public Service Vehicles Conduct Regulations 1990 to protect the wheelchair space on buses
• roll-out of best practice disability awareness training for bus drivers
• government’s role in promoting greater numbers of wheelchair accessible taxis and PHVs

DfT had informed DPTAC that these projects would be delivered in 2020, however they remain incomplete primarily due to the resource required in the department to address issues relating to rail replacement and home-to-school services which are non-compliant with PSVAR, and COVID-19. DPTAC advised DfT that delivering these projects as COVID-19 measures are eased would help build confidence for disabled people who haven’t used public transport since March 2020. Emma noted that DfT are exploring the practicalities of incorporating some of these projects in the Bus Strategy, and are working on its communications to support people back on the transport network.

Action: DPTAC to set out advice to the department about how the transport network should respond to increased demand when COVID-19 measures are eased.

DPTAC chair highlighted the importance of ensuring bus passengers are given greater status in the bus industry. Emma highlighted recent work with the DfT Bus Team to highlight the significance of passenger experience.

On the pedestrian environment, DPTAC noted that emerging technology and practices risk encroachment of footways for pedestrians, and that many disabled people risk losing access to the pedestrian environment as a result. DPTAC highlighted e-scooters, cyclists, parked cars, and automated vehicles and pods as examples.

DPTAC explained that micromobility devices should have in-built oscillators and other noise warning mechanisms to support visually impaired pedestrians. The Committee also noted the need for greater public awareness of the impact of micromobility devices, including the legal implications of these devices and greater levels of enforcement.

Emma Ward thanked DPTAC for their advice, and highlighted the importance of ensuring DfT learns lessons from the initial e-scooter trials for subsequent implementation, and the need for a wider communications campaign on micromobility devices.

National Strategy for Disabled People

Background was provided on the CSJ Disability Commission, established in April 2020 to feed into the National Strategy for Disabled People (NSfDP). The Commission will publish a report in early 2021 on its recommendations for the NSfDP, covering 5 areas including transport.

DPTAC held a meeting with the Disability Commission on 21 October where it advised the Commission to consider the impact and implications of physical infrastructure, staff availability, and staff training for transport.

DPTAC noted there is minimal robust evidence to prove that more disabled people are using the transport network now compared to before, and that there is no significant review or evidence providing reasoning behind this. However, a key factor is likely to be disabled people’s lack of confidence that the whole journey can be made from door-to-door. There is a need for widespread, longitudinal dataset focussed on disabled people’s travel patterns and behaviours.

DPTAC stated that accessibility needs the same status as safety across the transport network, requiring a cultural shift across the sector, so that accessibility is considered on a daily-basis throughout all aspects of transport policy development.

The Committee noted that passengers particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 have not used transport since March, and so it is important that operators are prepared to provide assistance when COVID-19 measures are eased following a period of reduced numbers of staff. In addition, accessibility training needs to have a minimum quality outcome across the transport sector.

Action: DPTAC to share any additional evidence and publications with the CSJ Disability Commission.

Minister of State for Accessibility

The Minister of State for Accessibility, Chris Heaton-Harris.

DPTAC chair outlined the Committee’s objectives and principals which include making sure every journey is door-to-door resulting in a consistency of experience; taking into consideration the accessibility needs of all disabled people when making a public investment, funding or approval decision; and ensuring service providers put accessibility at the heart of their main activities.

DPTAC chair noted that the long-term effects of COVID-19 on people’s lifestyle and work practices presents a risk of a sustained reduction in passenger numbers, which is likely to have an impact on the accessibility of the network. The Minister agreed that COVID-19 will impact future travel patterns, noting that the government intends for people to experience a positive service when they come back to transport once measures are eased. The Minister highlighted policies which the department has introduced to support this, including the Inclusive Transport Leaders Scheme, REAL Training and port accessibility enhancements.

DPTAC mentioned the importance of making transport operators aware of the disability awareness training as the network is opened up. The Minister noted that the transport industry has focussed more on the passenger since COVID-19, and it aims to continue these practices once measures are eased.

DPTAC mentioned staffing levels and unstaffed stations were not part of the Spending Review despite being key issues relating to rail accessibility. The Minister explained that the Spending Review does not affect transport staffing decisions, its focus is on infrastructure to support the government’s levelling-up initiative.

DfT proposals for the National Strategy for Disabled People

DfT presented proposals for the NSfDP. These include new funding for audio-visual equipment on buses; port accessibility; further funding for the It’s Everyone’s Journey campaign; funding to establish a standard in accessibility for electric car charging points and for research into areas such as the accessibility of bus stations and stops.

Other developments include extension of Access for All for a further five years; further development of Passenger Assist to provide more real-time information on facilities, improving accessibility equipment and communication on rolling-stock and raising the status of street design guidance for local authorities, town planners, and architects.

Action: DfT to share a collated database of DfT’s accessibility projects across the Inclusive Transport Strategy and NSfDP with DPTAC.

Close and next meeting

The next DPTAC Main Meeting will be on 9 or 10 March.