Equality Action Committee - 14/05/2001

At a MEETING of the EQUALITY ACTION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 14th May, 2001.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Lord Provost WRIGHT, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th February, 2001 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I RACE RELATIONS AMENDMENT ACT 2000 - HOME OFFICE CONSULTATION PAPER

There was submitted Report No. 293-2001 by the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development outlining proposals for the implementation of the new Act.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

a.that the Report forms the basis of Dundee City Council's response to the consultation document;

b.that the Report be remitted to the Equality Action Task Group (Race) to inform its action planning.

II "TOWARDS INCLUSION - CIVIL RIGHTS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE - GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE DISABILITY RIGHTS TASK FORCE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT"

There was submitted Report No. 294-2001 by the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development informing the Committee of proposals within the above Report and seeking approval for the recommendations.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

a.to note the Government's response to the Disability Rights Task Force Report;

b.to agree to the views of the Department's being sought and collated by the Directors of Corporate Planning and Neighbourhood Resources & Development to inform the Council's response to the Minister for the Disabled;

c.to remit to the Equality Action Task Group (Disability), where appropriate, changes to legislation and policy resulting from the above response/or recommendations.

Councillor Grant referred to the difficulties encountered by disabled people particularly with regard to access to public transport. She was concerned at a recent case from which it transpired that disabled passengers were prevented from taking electric scooters on passenger trains.

The Committee agreed that these concerns be passed on to the appropriate authorities.

LORD PROVOST HELEN WRIGHT, Convener.