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:
- The Local Toilet Needs
Assessment together with the public consultation that took place on the
Interim Needs Assessment.
- The draft Local Toilet
Strategy and associated public consultation.
- 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:
- 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.
- The Draft Local Toilet
Needs Strategy (appendix 3) which set out the plan to achieve the overall
aim for PC provision.
- 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:
- 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.
- Where Pod facilities were
at their end of life, no longer serviceable, they should be
decommissioned.
- 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:
- that
the feedback and observations provided during the discussion be considered
as part of the Local needs Assessment and Draft Local Toilet Strategy;
- 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
- the
Committee read, understood, and taken account of the Well-being Impact
Assessment.
Supporting documents:
-
Communities Scrutiny Report March 2025, item 6.
PDF 164 KB
-
1. Denbighshire County Council - Interim Public Toilet Needs Assessment, item 6.
PDF 514 KB
-
2. Local Toilet Needs Assessment Consultation Report, item 6.
PDF 1 MB
-
2. Local Toilet Needs Assessment Data, item 6.
PDF 295 KB
-
3. Draft Local Toilets Strategy 2024, item 6.
PDF 301 KB
-
4. Local Toilet Strategy (Draft) Feedback Summary Report Feb 2025, item 6.
PDF 419 KB
-
5. Current Public Conveniences Position and Requirements v3, item 6.
PDF 367 KB
-
6. PC Projected Budget Current Position, item 6.
PDF 132 KB
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7. PC costs - demolish, maintain, upgrade, item 6.
PDF 456 KB
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8. PC Savings Proposal WBIA March 2025, item 6.
PDF 134 KB
-
9. Risk Register, item 6.
PDF 177 KB