Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet approval of the draft Local Toilet Strategy for public consultation.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      acknowledges the work completed so far following a review of the needs of the local population which was undertaken via a public consultation and approves the final needs assessment (the Interim Needs Assessment had been appended as Appendix 2 to the report);

(b)      approves the draft strategy and action plan (Appendix 1 to the report) in line with the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017: Provision of Toilets;

(c)      delegate authority for the Lead Member Highways and Environment to agree any minor editorial changes required to the draft strategy before public consultation, and

(d)      confirms that it has read, understood, and taken account of the Wellbeing Impact Assessment (Appendix 3 to the report) as part of its consideration.

Councillor Barry Mellor presented the report seeking Cabinet approval of the draft Local Toilets Strategy for public consultation.

Councillor Mellor stressed that the report was not about closing toilets as portrayed by the press and it was appropriate that the Council agreed and adopted a new Strategy prior to any decisions on the provision and operation of public conveniences going forward.  The report included some background to the legislative provision regarding public toilets and requirement for local authorities to prepare and publish a Local Toilets Strategy which must include an assessment of need for toilets.  The Local Toilet Interim Needs Assessment and draft Local Toilets Strategy for Denbighshire, including an action plan of how the Council proposed to meet the identified need, had been appended to the report together with frequently asked questions in response to comments received during the Interim Needs Assessment consultation, a Wellbeing Impact Assessment and identified risks.

The Head of Highways and Environmental Services and Principal Manager (Catering/Cleaning) attended for this item.  The Head of Service referred to work carried out to date and reiterated that no decisions had been made regarding the future provision and operation of public conveniences, stressing the importance of an agreed Strategy as a prelude to future decision making.  Cabinet was asked to acknowledge the work carried out and approve the draft Strategy for consultation.

The following issues were raised during the ensuing debate –

·       further detail was provided on how the public consultation would be conducted over a two month period in order to achieve as full and wide consultation as possible with an appreciation of the impacts on many different, wide ranging and diverse groups in the county, and the potentially contentious nature of changing the current operating model.  It was hoped to gain as much information as possible with the findings used to formulate the overall final strategy position and inform future decision making or recommendations moving forward

·       currently one business had signed up to the Community Toilet Scheme and it was important to target appropriate businesses in key areas to join the scheme to meet the identified need for public toilets in the county; it was accepted that it may be difficult to recruit some businesses, but assurances were provided that much work would be carried out to maximise the benefits of the scheme which included learning from other councils who had success with similar schemes

·       reference was made to criticism in the press over the £500pa payable for joining the Community Toilet Scheme, and whether a greater incentive should be offered and views sought in that regard as part of the consultation process.  The Head of Service advised that the £500 rate was a national rate aligned with other local authorities and there was a balance between the financial implications of an increase and increasing uptake for the scheme.  Given the lack of promotion of the scheme to date he felt it would be appropriate to engage as much as possible with the business community at the current level to gauge the level of interest and then re-evaluate the position depending on the willingness of businesses to join the scheme.  Cabinet was keen for more targeted engagement with businesses but asked that the matter be brought back to them for further consideration in the event of poor take up of the scheme

·       with regard to Changing Places toilets, there was provision in Ysgol Glan Clwyd and Tesco Prestatyn Superstore referenced in the report, and officers reported on future provision in Corwen through the Levelling Up Fund and also in Queen’s Market, Rhyl.  It was accepted that such facilities were expensive to provide and there would be engagement with the third sector regarding any potential opportunities in that regard.  Councillor Emrys Wynne also highlighted the demand for baby changing facilities which did not require as much space

·       discussions had taken place with local Town/City/Community Councils generally regarding the operation of council-run public conveniences and to discuss the draft Strategy and way forward on the need for public toilets, and there had been a mixed response across the county with some very welcoming and supportive and others who were not prepared to work with the local authority – discussions were being held on a case by case basis for the areas concerned

·       in responding to a question regarding the day visitor numbers for Denbigh being higher than Llangollen, the Head of Service explained that STEAM data had been used for the day visitor numbers which did not include the significant amount of visitors who stayed overnight or for a longer period in that calculation.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      acknowledges the work completed so far following a review of the needs of the local population which was undertaken via a public consultation and approves the final needs assessment (the Interim Needs Assessment had been appended as Appendix 2 to the report);

(b)      approves the draft strategy and action plan (Appendix 1 to the report) in line with the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017: Provision of Toilets;

(c)      delegate authority for the Lead Member Highways and Environment to agree any minor editorial changes required to the draft strategy before public consultation, and

(d)      confirms that it has read, understood, and taken account of the Wellbeing Impact Assessment (Appendix 3 to the report) as part of its consideration.

At this point Councillor Arwel Roberts advised that he was not aware that Rhuddlan Town Council had been approached with regard to the draft Strategy and would like officers to attend a future meeting to discuss the matter.  The Leader asked the Monitoring Officer to raise the issue with the appropriate officer outside the meeting.