Petition calls for return of disability forum

A petition has been launched calling for a disability forum to be reinstated.

Earlier this month, at a full council meeting, a Liberal Democrat motion asking Reform UK-led West Northamptonshire Council to bring back the Disabled People's Forum was rejected.

The petition states that "disabled individuals have valuable perspectives that can significantly enhance the development and implementation of effective disability policies".

Charlie Hastie, the council's cabinet member for housing and communities, said: "Northampton's Disabled Forum was historically run by the previous borough council and has been inactive for some time."

He added: "Our officers recently met with members of these historic forums, including people with disabilities, to discuss the need for the community to take ownership and set these up. We are helping to support and facilitate work to make them community-led as part of our public sector equality duty."

The petition claims "recent changes made by West Northants Council hinder the ability for these essential voices to be adequately represented".

Proposing the motion, Lib Dem member Farzana Aldridge said: "The reality is that disabled residents are often consulted after decisions have been made rather than involved in shaping those decisions from the outset. This motion seeks to change those kind of scenarios."

During the meeting, council leader Mark Arnull said his party opposed the motion "in the strongest possible terms", calling it a "DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] merry-go-round".

"Disabled residents need practical help, faster adaptations, accessible transport, timely assessments, properly funded care," he said.

"What this motion seeks is another forum, more champions, more woke bureaucracy. Over the coming year, we will seek to look at everything that we do to make sure that our public sector equality duty is upheld, but that's it."

According to the council's website, the Disabled People's Forum gives residents with disabilities the chance to have a dialogue with the council, give feedback and help improve their quality of life.

The forum is listed as meeting five times a year, although the last recorded meeting was in October 2023.

Do you have a story suggestion for Northamptonshire? Contact us below.

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.