Issue - meetings

In his introduction to this agenda item, the Lead Councillor for Environment, whose portfolio included the operation and maintenance of the Borough’s public conveniences service, advised that the mandate before the EAB sought to explore possible options to reduce this service and related funding to other authorities with a view to contributing savings towards reducing the Council’s current budget gap. 

Having reiterated the challenging financial position that the Council was facing and its need to examine some of its services, particularly non-statutory services such as public toilet provision, with a view to identifying savings, the Head of Operational and Technical Services   gave a presentation regarding the proposed mandate to review public conveniences.  The presentation explained the following aspects of the mandate:

·             Strategy

·             Options

·             Considerations

·             Resources

·             Issues, assumptions and risks

·             Dependencies, constraints and opportunities

·             Internal stakeholders

·             CMT consideration (2 February 2021)

·             Executive Liaison Group consideration (3 March 2021)

·             Public conveniences usage

·             Impact of charges

The presentation highlighted the aim to secure a cost reduction in the region of £75,000 and recommended that Option 3, consisting of the removal of grant funding of £14,000 to Ash and Shere Parish Councils towards the operation of their toilets, and Option 4, seeking limited closure aligned with a redistribution of work, be pursued.  This would allow for a saving of one post with the closure of only 4 toilet facilities, selected from a long list of 6-8 toilets following consultation.

The following points arose from related questions, comments and discussion:

·             Pubic conveniences were seen as part of the public service provision to residents and visitors and whilst there was some support for Option 5, which would result in current provision continuing unchanged, it was recognised that this was unrealistic for a discretionary service given the Council’s current financial position.  Accordingly, it was agreed that Options 3 and 4 should be pursued.

·             No indication was being given at present as to the individual toilets which may be closed and decisions could be based on the availability of other facilities in the area in addition to usage levels.

·             As the last use survey of public toilets had taken place three years previously, another survey was suggested as a means to update information and ascertain whether the Coronavirus pandemic had altered patterns of usage.  However, usage figures had tended to be static historically.

·             Charging for the use of public conveniences, which had been previously considered and ruled out, was not supported and the resulting reduction in use could lead to other issues.  It was felt that introducing a voluntary charging system was unlikely to generate significant income.  However, alternative revenue streams such as toilet sponsorship and business / community group operated facilities were possibilities which were supported and should be explored with local businesses and organisations.  The latter had proved to be successful in other local authority areas.

·             In terms of running costs associated with the Council’s public conveniences, approximately 20% equated to utilities whilst the remainder comprised of staffing and vehicle costs. Opening and closing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23