Town council meetings might have to move

Town councillors may soon need to hold some meetings at a different venue in the town owing to accessibility concerns.

Newtown Town Council and its committee meetings are held in a council chamber on the first floor of Brisco House in the town centre. However, there is no lift, and access is only via stairs.

The town clerk will report to councillors tonight that some are finding it increasingly difficult to use the stairs, and the council might not be meeting its Health and Safety responsibilities.

A report states that a "transformation" project is planned for the building, which will modernise it and make the first floor accessible. However, this could be two years away.

A report to the full council meeting tonight states: "Members will be aware that the council chamber is situated on the first floor of Sarah Brisco House, accessible by stairs. They may have also observed that more than one councillor, some of whom are registered disabled (blue badge holders), appear to have increasing difficulty navigating the stairs. 

"At least two councillors have expressed concern that those experiencing increasing difficulty with stairs may feel disadvantaged in the way they choose to exercise the elected democratic duty to which they are summoned and have asked if reasonable alternative venues might be considered.

 In parallel, staff have become increasingly concerned over a number of years that the council may be unable to meet its health and safety obligations of building managers to ensure the safety of those in the workplace – in this case unable to make making reason."

The council has a 75 year lease at Brisco House and it does not end until 2078. A trust owns the building.

Since the Covid pandemic, the council has held some online meetings, and some are hybrid.

The town clerk, Ed Humphreys, has stated that some of the hybrid meetings that someone registered disabled wants to attend might have to be held at another town centre venue.

The report recommends: "By reason of maintaining equitable choice of means of participation available to all councillors, and in meeting health and safety obligations, to authorise officers to make reasonable adjustments by seeking alternative venues in situations where there is a disadvantaged physical
attendance by a registered disabled councillor at hybrid meetings."

Councillors will vote on the matter tonight.