Agenda item

To consider a motion on notice submitted by Councillor Louise Belcher and seconded by Councillors Joanne Ainscough, Matt Black, Phil Black, Clair Colbridge Claire Cozler, Margaret Pattison, Robert Redfern, Jackson Stubbs, Sandra Thornberry and David Whitaker.

The following motion of which notice had been given to the Chief Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15 was moved by Councillor Belcher and seconded by Councillor Cozler:

“This Council notes that:

• Disabled residents in the Lancaster district have historically been able to access venues, events, and services, including provision for personal assistants or essential carers, by presenting recognised forms of disability verification such as a Blue Badge or evidence of entitlement to Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

• Some venues have introduced third-party access accreditation schemes, including the Nimbus Disability Access Card, as a method of verifying access requirements.

• The Council has recently indicated that, within the access policy for The Platform, the Nimbus system will operate as a primary method of verification, while also providing a free venue-specific card option and allowing alternative forms of evidence where individuals do not hold a Nimbus card.

• While access card schemes may offer administrative convenience, any system that effectively requires disabled people to obtain third-party accreditation risks creating financial, administrative, or procedural barriers.

• Many disabled people already undergo extensive statutory assessment processes through the Department for Work and Pensions for Personal Independence Payment or through local authority Blue Badge schemes.

• City Council-owned and Council-supported venues have duties under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments and to ensure policies and practices do not place disabled people at a substantial disadvantage.

This Council believes that:

• Disabled residents should not be required to undergo additional third-party assessment processes, or incur costs, in order to demonstrate access needs that have already been recognised through statutory systems.

• Access policies should be inclusive, respectful, and focused on enabling participation rather than creating additional hurdles.

• Where access card systems are used, they must operate as optional tools to support access, not as mandatory gateways.

• Disabled people should be able to request reasonable adjustments using a range of accessible and proportionate methods of verification.

This Council therefore resolves to:

1. Ensure that Council-owned and Council-operated venues do not require disabled people to obtain a Nimbus Access Card or any other third-party access card as a mandatory condition for accessing events, facilities, or personal assistant/essential carer tickets.

2. Confirm that alternative forms of disability verification, including Blue Badges, Personal Independence Payment award documentation, Disability Living Allowance evidence, or confirmation from recognised support services, will be accepted when individuals request reasonable adjustments.

3. Ensure that any access card systems used by Council venues, including those provided by Nimbus Disability, clearly provide a free option and make explicit that holding such a card is not required in order to receive reasonable adjustments.

4. Require that access policies at venues such as The Platform use inclusive and welcoming language, clearly communicating that reasonable adjustments will be made and that multiple routes exist for disabled people to demonstrate access needs.

5. Issue guidance to Council-supported venues, partners, and event organisers encouraging flexible, inclusive verification processes consistent with the duties set out in the Equality Act 2010.

6. Undertake a review of access verification policies across Council-owned and Council supported venues to ensure they remain proportionate, lawful, and do not create unnecessary barriers for disabled residents.”

A briefing note has been submitted by officers to accompany the motion.

At the conclusion of the debate a vote was taken, and the motion was carried unanimously.

Resolved unanimously:-

This Council notes that:

• Disabled residents in the Lancaster district have historically been able to access venues, events, and services, including provision for personal assistants or essential carers, by presenting recognised forms of disability verification such as a Blue Badge or evidence of entitlement to Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

• Some venues have introduced third-party access accreditation schemes, including the Nimbus Disability Access Card, as a method of verifying access requirements.

• The Council has recently indicated that, within the access policy for The Platform, the Nimbus system will operate as a primary method of verification, while also providing a free venue-specific card option and allowing alternative forms of evidence where individuals do not hold a Nimbus card.

• While access card schemes may offer administrative convenience, any system that effectively requires disabled people to obtain third-party accreditation risks creating financial, administrative, or procedural barriers.

• Many disabled people already undergo extensive statutory assessment processes through the Department for Work and Pensions for Personal Independence Payment or through local authority Blue Badge schemes.

• City Council-owned and Council-supported venues have duties under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments and to ensure policies and practices do not place disabled people at a substantial disadvantage.

This Council believes that:

• Disabled residents should not be required to undergo additional third-party assessment processes, or incur costs, in order to demonstrate access needs that have already been recognised through statutory systems.

• Access policies should be inclusive, respectful, and focused on enabling participation rather than creating additional hurdles.

• Where access card systems are used, they must operate as optional tools to support access, not as mandatory gateways.

• Disabled people should be able to request reasonable adjustments using a range of accessible and proportionate methods of verification.

This Council therefore resolves to:

1. Ensure that Council-owned and Council-operated venues do not require disabled people to obtain a Nimbus Access Card or any other third-party access card as a mandatory condition for accessing events, facilities, or personal assistant/essential carer tickets.

2. Confirm that alternative forms of disability verification, including Blue Badges, Personal Independence Payment award documentation, Disability Living Allowance evidence, or confirmation from recognised support services, will be accepted when individuals request reasonable adjustments.

3. Ensure that any access card systems used by Council venues, including those provided by Nimbus Disability, clearly provide a free option and make explicit that holding such a card is not required in order to receive reasonable adjustments.

4. Require that access policies at venues such as The Platform use inclusive and welcoming language, clearly communicating that reasonable adjustments will be made and that multiple routes exist for disabled people to demonstrate access needs.

5. Issue guidance to Council-supported venues, partners, and event organisers encouraging flexible, inclusive verification processes consistent with the duties set out in the Equality Act 2010.

6. Undertake a review of access verification policies across Council-owned and Council supported venues to ensure they remain proportionate, lawful, and do not create unnecessary barriers for disabled residents.