Deaf residents, who are members from Harrow and Brent United Deaf Club attended the Cabinet meeting on Thursday 23rd June 2022 at Harrow Council’s Council Chambers, asking two key questions to Paul Osborn, Leader of Council and Councillor Pritesh Patel, Portfolio Holder for Adult Services & Public Health about Deaf access as follow:
It was noted that Harrow Council signed the BSL Charter in October 2015 [(Harrow signs the British Sign Language Charter – British Deaf Association (bda.org.uk); Harrow Council signed BSL Charter | Harrow & Brent United Deaf Club (hudc.org.uk)] and most recently the House of Lords passed British Sign Language Act 2022 on 28th April 2022 (UK Passes BSL Bill, Recognising it As Official Language – Fair Play Talks), our Question is:
To Paul Osborn, Leader of Council:
1. What have you done to improve services for deaf residents in Harrow? Lucinda Lawson (Deaf resident)
2. How you would encourage and promote Deaf Awareness across the council to make sure deaf residents are fully included and working with the council? Simon Eyers
(Deaf resident)
Question to Councillor Pritesh Patel, Portfolio Holder for Adult Services & Public Health –
3. We are not happy with the Sensory Service; the service is poor and the Equipment officer is not available to meet deaf residents’ needs. Please can you review the Sensory service to ensure service delivery to deaf residents and access to social care packages? Inthu Ahmed (Deaf resident)
Harrow Council Cabinet Public Questions: https://moderngov.harrow.gov.uk/documents/b30203/Public%20Questions%20Thursday%2023-Jun-2022%2018.30%20Cabinet.pdf?T=9
Agenda and minutes: https://moderngov.harrow.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=249&MId=65547
Cabinet Minutes Meeting on 23rd June 2022: https://moderngov.harrow.gov.uk/documents/g65547/Printed%20minutes%20Thursday%2023-Jun-2022%2018.30%20Cabinet.pdf?T=1
Councillor Paul Osborn and Councilor Pritesh Patel will arrange a meeting with the members to discuss this further.
Deaf residents in Harrow call on councillors to review ‘poor’ services: https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/deaf-residents-harrow-call-councillors-24345472
