The York Human Rights City Network has released a statement following City of York Council’s decision to remove the footstreets exemption offered to disabled badge holders.
Read the full statement here.
“The York Human Rights City Network expresses its disappointment and dismay at the decision taken by the Executive Committee of the City of York Council on 18 November 2021 to make permanent the ban on disabled people using their Blue Badges to access the foot-street areas of the city centre.”
“In July 2021 YHRCN expressed its deep concerns about the Council’s plans in relation to city centre access. In September 2021 the Network brought its concerns to the Human Rights and Equalities Board, which is chaired by the Council’s Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Communities. The Board commissioned the Network to prepare a report reviewing the law and practice and recommending how the Council can best respect the human rights of all when taking complex decisions. The Board also agreed to facilitate attempts to co-design solutions to the access issue, through York CVS.
The Network undertook its commission with speed and seriousness. Its report was delivered on time. It was ultimately ignored by the Council Executive, when making its final decision. YHRCN asked twice for a meeting of the Human Rights and Equalities Board to be held to consider the report the Board had commissioned, and the outcomes of the York CVS-facilitated meetings. These requests were rejected. As such, the Human Rights and Equalities Board was prevented from taking any position on the access question.
This is a defining moment for York as a human rights city. The Blue Badge access issue is by far the most challenging human rights challenge we have faced since the 2017 declaration. Parts of the human rights infrastructure in the city, built over the last decade, have failed. Specifically, we have serious concerns about a number of aspects of the functioning, leadership and credibility of the Human Rights and Equalities Board and its influence within the Council and wider community.”