As Conservatives we believe in the dignity of the individual as a core tenet of Conservatism

We want to see the lives of those with disability enhanced.

Last week we worked to make sure disability groups and their representatives had a voice in council after the significant adverse impact of a number of recent council policies.

The consequences of what has been highlighted is grave and could result in further high-profile independent investigations including from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.

Tuesday

On Tuesday, Brighton Access for Disabled Groups Everywhere (BADGE) made two serious allegations against the council at the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee.

Both related to the recent roll out of cycling and walking infrastructure in the City.

First, BADGE alleged that in June, when bidding to get government funding, the Council had incorrectly stated in its application that it had consulted with disabled people.

Second, BADGE alleged that that the council’s claim that specific elements of the scheme were sent to ‘key groups’ had not included disability groups.  T

Both allegations seem to have grounds.

As The Argus reported last month, disabled groups were not contacted until July 14 and the ‘key groups’ had been limited to Brighton and Hove Bus Company, Friends of the Earth and Community Works.

The council should have consulted disabled groups because if they had they would have discovered several major problems with its plans: dangerous floating disabled parking spaces on the seafront road; the loss of parking and the indignity of having to ask to use the toilets on Madeira Drive; inadequate and insufficient parking in the city centre; lost disabled parking bays to diner seating; and vehicle access parking curfews imposed on them for longer than everybody else.

At the meeting, Rob Arbery, co-founder of BADGE said: “Our members are appalled that 161 days since disabled people first raised concerns very little has changed.  We unequivocally back (Conservative) Cllr Wares' motion calling for a forensic and independent examination to find out the truth, who is responsible and prevent it from happening again.”

However Greens and Labour in Brighton & Hove voted against such an investigation and disability groups were left frustrated by the council once again.

Wednesday

On Wednesday a different committee met to address the ongoing consequences of one of the top policy failures of any council in recent memory.

The Home to School Transport service, which is trusted by parents of children with special educational needs to take their children to school, was brought to its knees by a decision of the previous Labour administration to bring in a consultancy to cut costs.

The saga left the service in disarray, the council budget over £1 million out of pocket, and children and parents upset. 

Conservative Councillors Lee Wares and Mary Mears have been standing up for those vulnerable residents impacted by this debacle and making sure that scrutiny is applied.

The Council has already been subject to an investigation by the Local Government Association - but at the council meeting on Wednesday it was revealed that a second investigation would now have to be undertaken following the report of an independent barrister.

The damage to the City’s reputation in providing services for people with a disability has been immense.

Ideology and policy

So how did the council get itself into this mess?

The answer, as is often the case with this council, is the ideological bent of the councillors making the policy, with councillors making decisions based on ideology rather than evidence-based decision-making.

The Temporary Cycle Lanes were rushed through by Labour, determined to see more cycling at any cost, regardless of any evidence to the contrary.  There are still Labour councillors refusing to budge on this principle and that is why Old Shoreham Road Temporary Cycle Lane remains to this day.

The Home to School Transport Scheme changes were seemingly brought about for ideological reasons as well.  One Labour councillor said he didn’t like the way the existing service was procured as it involved giving “lavish public contracts for local petty bourgeois monopolies”.  He was referring to local taxi firms and local businesses that have served this city for decades and had built up trust and great relationships with children with special educational needs.

Each of these ideological decisions had devastating effects on people with a disability in this city.

Can the Administration learn this lesson and change in future?  The signs don’t look good.

Even today the City sits in the middle of a strike dispute caused by the ideological decision to bring the City’s Housing Repairs service in house – because some councillors didn’t like the idea that the existing services were provided by a private contractor.

As Conservatives we will continue to support our citizens and make sure they have a voice in council.

ENDS.