The responsibilities of Local Authority technical staff in relation to implementing the Disability Act 2005
The Disability Act 2005 introduced a number of legal requirements for technical staff in local authorities. These were mainly contained in Part 3 of the Act which covers “Access to Public Service”. The following should be considered by technical staff in Local Authorities:
- Procurement: Under section 27 of the Act, technical staff should be incorporating access as part of their procurement brief. This includes considering access when engaging contractors procuring equipment and ensuring that consultants incorporate the latest accessibility criteria in the design of proposed works.
- Access audits have been carried out by all local authorities on all public buildings, roads, streets, playgrounds etc. Technical staff are required to beware of these audits and implement the recommendations if carrying out any remedial works on existing local authority buildings or public spaces.
- Design of public buildings: The design of all public buildings (new, extension or renovations) must consider the highest level of accessibility. It is important to note that Part M of the Building Regulations is being updated and local authorities have 10 years to bring their buildings in line with the requirements of Part M as a result of the changes.
- Sectoral Plan: The Department of Environment’s Sectoral Plan (Section 36 of the Disability Act) contains a number of requirements for technical staff. There are a number of sections of the plan that are relevant to various staff including section 4.8 – 4.14 which refers to housing, section 4.6 which is relevant for access to public buildings, section 4.18 which relates to roads and streets, section 4.19 which is relevant for planning and planners.
If you would like further information in relation to the legal requirements or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact one of our team on 01-4151285 or e-mail [email protected].
