Agenda item

Agenda item

DRAFT LOCAL TOILET STRATEGY & SAVINGS PROPOSAL

To consider a report from The head of Highways and Environmental Services (copy attached) on the progress made to date on the Local Toilet Strategy together with draft recommendations for savings proposals.

Minutes:

The Lead Member for Environment and Transport introduced the report (previously circulated). He informed the Committee that there were three reasons for presenting the report, to consider:

 

  1. The Local Toilet Needs Assessment together with the public consultation that took place on the Interim Needs Assessment.
  2. The draft Local Toilet Strategy and associated public consultation.
  3. The options for each public convenience facility within Denbighshire.

 

The Lead Member assured the Committee that he understood the importance of public conveniences (PC) provision and had been working with the Service on a plan to keep PCs open where there was a clear need for them.

 

Referring to the report the Corporate Director: Economy and Environment highlighted important information within the report:

 

  1. The Local Needs Assessment (appendix 1) which set out the needs for PCs in each town. It concluded that there was a need for PCs in Corwen, Denbigh, Llangollen, Prestatyn and Rhyl.
  2. The Draft Local Toilet Needs Strategy (appendix 3) which set out the plan to achieve the overall aim for PC provision.
  3. Current PC position and Requirements (appendix 5) applying the logic of the Draft Local Toilet Needs Strategy in tandem with the Authority’s budgetary restraints.

The Strategy would compare the current level of provision across the County with the identified need in each town.

 

PCs in Towns with an identified need would be invested in upgraded facilities. Charges would be reviewed to contribute towards supporting those investments and operational costs.  Operational processes and opening hours would be reviewed. The Council would also continue to explore options to transfer council run toilets to external organisations where possible, whilst continuing to look and expand the Community Toilet Scheme.

 

The following was being recommended:

 

  1. Given that the provision of public conveniences was a discretionary service that the Council should cease to operate PCs where there was no identified need – Dyserth, Rhuddlan and St. Asaph.
  2. Where Pod facilities were at their end of life, no longer serviceable, they should be decommissioned.
  3. PCs in towns with an identified need should be invested in, in order to accept cashless payment and allow them to be unstaffed.

An application had been made to Welsh Government’s Brilliant Basics Fund to contribute towards that investment with a decision expected in early April 2025. Further funding was being explored with conversations being held with City, Town and Community Councils regarding their ability to contribute towards the investment required and/or potentially reducing the cost of PC charges in their area.

 

Responding to members’ questions Officer’s advised:

 

  • The main PC facility in each of the towns that had been identified as having a local need for PCs had been submitted for an application of Brilliant Basics grant funding. Where there was more than one PC facility in that town additional funding would need to be sourced. Next steps would depend on the outcome of the funding application.
  • With the exception of Corwen Town Council there had been little appetite in the transference of PC facilities by other Town, City and Community Councils.
  • Regarding forward planning over potential tourism growth in areas such as the AONB and other rural areas, the Needs Assessment followed a recognised methodology that concluded that it was a reasonable recommendation, that given PC provision was a non-statutory function with budgetary pressures, to cease providing that facility where there was no identified need.
  • The alternative to a PC closure could be for the local TC&CC to increase their levy to support the financial burden of the PCs remaining open. Discussions with TC&CC were ongoing. It was important to note that TC&CC would be asked to provide financial support for the PC facilities in their community rather than the Service as a whole.
  • If the Brilliant Basics funding did not materialise further conversations would be required with the TC&CC and Capital Scrutiny Group.
  • A few Pod facilities were no longer working and parts for repair were obsolete or software no longer supported. They, along with the other Pods that were coming to their end of life would be decommissioned.
  • The Authority’s responsibility was to identify where there was a need for PCs and meet that need where possible. However, it did not have a duty to provide them.
  • In some areas the need for PC facilities identified was greater than supplied. The Authority was trying to supplement further provision by promoting the Community Toilet Scheme, further work was needed in that area.
  • The report going to Cabinet in April was seeking a decision on the Draft Local Toilet Strategy. Further work was required, dependent on the level of funding obtained and consultation with the various TC&CC, before a decision could be made on individual PC facilities.
  • More work was needed on the financial modelling in terms of PC charges. As many of the PC’s had not previously been chargeable there was no way of knowing what the potential level of income could be.

 

Members speculated that in areas where no need had been identified the probability would be that visitor numbers would fluctuate through the year. They asked whether TC&CC could be asked to contribute to seasonal opening costs for PCs?

 

It was suggested that the payment offered as part of the Community Toilet Scheme should be reviewed as the extra cost to a business for providing the service would not be covered by £500.

 

The Committee asked whether too much focus was being placed on visitors and not enough on residents’ needs, particularly from a health, wellbeing and accessibility perspective. In rural areas access to PCs provide peace of mind for those with ill health, disabilities and mobility issues to have confidence in being able to live active local lives.

 

The Committee recommended that when engaging with TC&CC the economic benefit to their community from residents and visitors seeking a rest stop should be highlighted.

 

Members asked that when the report was presented to Cabinet for a decision information was included on the STEAM matrix used to calculate a town’s visitor numbers and subsequent identified need requirement for PCs.

 

It was noted that the level of concern raised by members and residents during the consultations over proposals to potentially close some PCs was so great that it was felt that the provision of PCs, where there was an identified need, should be a statutory requirement – funded by Welsh Government. The Authority, via its local Councillors should lobby WG for a change in statutory obligation for the service. A lack of public conveniences raised significant public health issues.

 

Officers were thanked for the level of detail contained in the report.

 

RESOLVED:

 

  1. that the feedback and observations provided during the discussion be considered as part of the Local needs Assessment and Draft Local Toilet Strategy;
  2. the current PC provision and the options being considered for each facility be noted, with recommendations that further talks be undertaken with TC&CCs to support those facilities in their communities; and
  3. the Committee read, understood, and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment.

 

 

 

Supporting documents: