Policies and procedures concerning built and street environments

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) wishes to gain an accurate picture of local authority policies and procedures concerning built and street environments. We would be grateful if your authority could respond to the 12 following questions.

Policies and procedures

1) What policies, procedures and regulations does the local authority have in place to manage, monitor or regulate the following:

a) Street furniture, such as advertising boards or café furniture

b) Parking on pavements

c) Wheelie bins that cause a pavement obstruction

d) Shared spaces / surfaces

Parking

2) Has the local authority taken over the enforcement of minor parking offences from the police and if so which department has responsibility for this?

Shared spaces

3) In the last 5 years how many shared space / surface schemes have been developed in the local authority area and where are they situated?

4) How many shared space / surface proposed schemes have been turned down on grounds of safety?

Equality monitoring and consulting blind and partially sighted people

5) During the planning process for changes to the built and street environment how does the local authority meet its Equality Act 2010 duty to monitor the effect on disabled people? How are blind and partially sighted people consulted during the planning process?

6) When the local authority plans disruption such as pavement closures and other temporary obstructions such as scaffolding, how does the local authority meet its duty under the Equality Act 2010 to monitor the affect on disabled people? How do you consult with blind and partially sighted people about such disruption?

Pavement repairs and accidents

7) How much has the local authority spent on pavement repairs over the last five years?

2013/14

2012/13

2011/12

2010/11

2009/10

8) How much has the local authority spent on litigation awards to people who have been injured from pavements in need of repair over the last five years?

2013/14

2012/13

2011/12

2010/11

2009/10

9) Over the last five years, how many blind and partially sighted people have received compensation as a result of injuring themselves on a broken pavement?

Pedestrian Crossings

10) What percentage of the pedestrian crossings maintained by the local authority, have:

a) Tactile rotating cones?

b) Audible beeps?

c) Both?

Bin collection

11) Does the local authority have any sort of scheme in place to help residents who are registered visually impaired to take out rubbish and take out/return recycling containers?

Providing alternative formats

12) Over the last five years, how many council planning applications were given to residents in the following formats? Also please state the actual number of planning applications made each year.

Braille
Audio
Word Documents/ Clear print
Total no of planning applications

2013/14

2012/13

2011/12

2010/11

2009/10