Agenda item

The Committee considered the final report of the Public Conveniences Working Group. In the discussion of the working group report, members reiterated the importance of maintaining high‑quality public conveniences, particularly in areas with high visitor numbers. The Committee discussed the financial pressures associated with operating public convenience facilities, the varying conditions of inherited assets, and the need for a consistent countywide standard while retaining flexibility for local partnership models. Members raised questions about the proposed charging policy, alternative delivery models, and the opportunities for community or town council involvement.

 

Whilst there was support for the contents of the report and the work undertaken, a number of amendments to the initial recommendations put forward by the working group were agreed at the meeting.

 

-             To expand Recommendation 9 to include the specific wording used in the report under ‘Principle 5 – Capital Improvement Programme’

Enhancements will aim to include:

·     Water bottle refill stations

·     Baby changing facilities and Sanitary waste disposal options in both male and female spaces

·     Improve signage within and externally to promote network visibility, responsible use of the space and relevant contact details.

·     Environmental initiatives such as greywater recycling, renewable energy generation, and efficient energy use that support the council’s ambition to achieve net-zero carbon neutrality by 2030.

 

-             To reorder the Recommendations, so the original recommendation 10 is moved to position 1 and to emphasise the importance of this potential funding stream for capital and revenue.

 

-             If the recommendation related to car park tariff funding model is approved, consideration should be given to how this could also support the ongoing revenue contributions to parish and town councils interested in the devolution of any public conveniences. The wording of ‘Principle 1 - Support for Alternative Delivery Models’ does not need amending, but the Group would like this to form part of the understanding of the “funding options” wording referenced in the report, in the event that both are taken forward.

 

As a result of these, the amended recommendations to be considered by Executive are:

 

The TEEE O&S committee recommends to Executive the following;

 

1)         As a priority collaborate with others, including the Combined Authority, to identify opportunities for financial support in operating tourist infrastructure and to actively pursue external funding to enhance and sustain the service. (was recommendation 10)

 

2)         To set a consistent entry fee, the Working Group recommends the entry fee for 2026-27 to be set at either 40p or 50p per user, with the final value decided by Executive.

 

3)         To endorse a capital allocation to expand the locations where a charge is levied.

 

4)         To endorse a capital allocation to enable officers to explore alternative funding streams, including honesty boxes, app-based donations, advertising, sponsorship, and community partnerships.

 

5)         To continue to offer free access for disabled users, through the National RADAR key scheme.

 

6)         To maintain and seek to expand Changing Places provision to meet the needs of people with profound disabilities, supported by external funding.

 

7)         To implement as part of the next car park tariff review, an increase to the per ticket price across all off-street parking to fund all revenue costs for toilets within the immediate vicinity of any NYC car park. In addition to the revenue costs, the uplift in the tariff should include a contribution towards a capital modernisation programme - should be funded through the overall car park tariff income.

 

If this recommendation is approved, the group would like consideration to be given to how this could also support ongoing revenue contributions to Parish and Town councils interested in devolution of any public conveniences. The wording of ‘Principle 1 - Support for Alternative Delivery Models’ in the final report of the working group does not need amending, but the Group would like this to form part of the understanding of the “funding options” wording referenced in the report, in the event that both are taken forward.

 

8)         Consider closure of sites which are in a poor condition, have low footfall and/or are in close proximity to other sites, subject to consultation with Parish/Town Councils, Division Members, Area Committee, Executive and with the final decision to be taken by the Executive Member for Managing Our Environment.

 

9)         To ring-fence proceeds from the disposal of any public conveniences for reinvestment into the wider toilet network.

 

10)      To commit to a capital improvement programme to ensure that by 2030 all sites are in a good or excellent condition.

            Enhancements will aim to include:

·     Water bottle refill stations

·     Baby changing facilities and Sanitary waste disposal options in both male and female spaces

·     Improve signage within and externally to promote network visibility, responsible use of the space and relevant contact details.

·     Environmental initiatives such as greywater recycling, renewable energy generation, and efficient energy use that support the council’s ambition to achieve net-zero carbon neutrality by 2030.

 

The capital allocation to deliver Recommendation 3 is £175,000 (proposed to be funded from the Strategic Capacity Reserve), and the capital allocation to deliver Recommendation 4 is £2,000.