Disability Group Action Meeting

By RADDAG (Rochdale & District Disability Action Group)

Rochdale Borough Council are holding a community consultation meeting on Thursday 21st February 2013 at 10.30 am at Deeplish Community Centre, Hare Street, Rochdale, OL11 1JT on the council’s budget proposal for 2013/14. There will be a short presentation to explain the key elements of the budget proposals. As these proposals will have a major impact on Disabled People in the Borough, it's really important that we have a good representation from as many organisations and individuals as possible, please pass this on to anyone who you think may be interested in attending. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me on sarah.cross@raddag.org

I have been alerted by my sister about this announcement posted on 'Twitter' (my nephew suffers from cerebral palsy and has learning difficulties). She rang and asked would other venues made available within the Borough that would be offering these consultations so that she could attend one more local and was told 'no' and, that they were just acting under the directive of the Council.

Disability isn't just confined to residents living in the Deeplish area (is it)? so why couldn't meetings have been set up at different venues within the borough and if not, why not a more central venue such as the Town Hall?

Note: I have bolded the sentence that (to me) is a total contradiction of the audience it is proposed to be aimed at

Exactly Hinch! and that is why my sister inquired as to whether there would be other venues and was told 'no', it is being done under the directive of the council. My sister has spoken about her reticence at attending the meeting at the Deeplish Centre and, as you said, would prefer to attend somewhere more 'neutral'.

So, which Councillor has pushed for this then?

Would Disability come under Councillor Jean Hornby? If so, I would send her an email or give her a call.

Not to worry, as long as RMBC are putting the needs of our ethnic majority groups (oops minority) first, they will be fine as they will be seen to be 'ticking the right boxes' so, all's well with Rochdale! isn't it?

To make it all fair I thought they usually held a series of road shows on topics like this. To make sure they reach as many people as possible in all communities?

This to be seen to be fair and equal to all people in the borough of Rochdale.

The vehicular access to this location is abysmal .. single lane, One-Way street, normally with parked vehicles flanking either side, and a mini-bus or two around.

Still, it's half term so the 'pedestrian-children' traffic going too and fro re the nearby large Primary School might be lower than normal.

Deeplish Community Centre 'hosts' RCT (Rochdale Community Transport) offices and its staff, which is thought to be actively seeking continuity of Local Commissioning Contracts for transporting some community members with disabilities. Bit of a happy coincidence for the known inter-related management and personnel

Poppyanna: Some councillors may have plugged this sole venue, but I suggest that RMBC Officers have also been instrumental in deciding it's sole suitability. After all, RMBC employs Community Cohesion Officers with their interpretation of fair borough partnerships, equality, disability needs, etcetera.

Sounds like a lot of back scratching is going on for sure!

If they really want to polarise communities, perhaps thought might have been given to holding the meeting in the Masonic Lodge or a Catholic church hall?

What a superb analogy Hinch and one I totally agree with. Why can't RMBC balance their thinking along those lines once in a while instead of constantly cowdowing to one section of the community?

If RMBC want 'community cohesion' and 'integration' (their favourite words) surely they should have organised this meeting in the Town Hall? instead they have delivered directly to this communities doorsteps totally ignoring the needs of the wider population of Rochdale thus encouraging the exact opposite, shame on them.