Agenda item

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 times of facilities did not drive costs.

·             It was considered necessary to maintain the present levels of facility cleaning as any reduction could lead to health and safety issues.

·             The pop-up urinal in North Street, for which no usage information was available, had been in position for fifteen years and was becoming in need of replacement which would be costly.  However, the toilet had significantly reduced previous issues with public urination.  Such health and safety issues should be monitored following toilet closures.

·             Water bottle refill stations had been installed by the Council at some public conveniences, such as that at the junction of North Street and Ward Street which currently served the Library, and it was requested these be borne in mind when decisions regarding possible closure were made.

·             Some support was expressed for inviting Ash and Shere Parish Councils to consider covering the costs of the public conveniences located in their areas and it was hoped that this would not lead to the closure of the toilets.

·             It was noted that the toilet facilities currently provided by Debenhams would close when the store ceased to exist and there was a possibility of other shops with toilet facilities closing as shopping patterns changed as a result of COVID-19.  However, there was alternative provision in the Baptist Church near to Debenhams which would be opened to the public following the pandemic and Surrey County Council was looking into the provision of public toilet facilities in the refurbished Guildford Library. 

·             It was requested that the review include exploration with developers of the possibility of public toilets being provided at sites being redeveloped in Guildford such as the North Street, Bus Station and St Mary’s Wharf (Debenhams) sites.  It was felt that facilities at or nearby the Bus Station may encourage bus use.

·             In addition to the public convenience location details included on the Council’s website and the free applications providing this information, a location map of facilities and signposting were welcomed.

In agreeing that the above points be forward to the Executive, the EAB confirmed its support for the mandate to be pursued and the business case to be developed with a view to identifying a long list of possible public convenience closures for consultation before the matter was brought back to the Board for further consideration later in 2021.