Valid from 04/12/2006

15CAuthorities and their members: duty to make adjustmentsE+W+S

(1)Subsection (2) applies where—

(a)a provision, criterion or practice applied by or on behalf of an authority to which this section applies, or

(b)any physical feature of premises occupied by, or under the control of, such an authority,

places a disabled person who is a member of the authority at a substantial disadvantage, in comparison with members of the authority who are not disabled persons, in connection with his carrying-out of official business.

(2)It is the duty of the authority to take such steps as it is reasonable, in all the circumstances of the case, for it to have to take in order to prevent the provision, criterion or practice, or feature, having that effect.

(3)Subsection (2) does not impose any duty on an authority to which this section applies in relation to a member of the authority who is a disabled person if the authority does not know, and could not reasonably be expected to know, that the member—

(a)has a disability; and

(b)is likely to be affected in the way mentioned in subsection (1).

(4)Regulations may make provision, for purposes of this section—

(a)as to circumstances in which a provision, criterion or practice, or physical feature, is to be taken to have the effect mentioned in subsection (1);

(b)as to circumstances in which a provision, criterion or practice, or physical feature, is to be taken not to have the effect mentioned in subsection (1);

(c)as to circumstances in which it is, or as to circumstances in which it is not, reasonable for an authority to have to take steps of a prescribed description;

(d)as to steps which it is always, or as to steps which it is never, reasonable for an authority to have to take;

(e)as to things which are, or as to things which are not, to be treated as physical features.]