Issue - meetings

Public Conveniences

Meeting: 13/01/2016 - Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Expired 13/07/20 (Item 55)

55 Public Conveniences pdf icon PDF 86 KB

Decision:

That the Committee recommends approval of the outcome of the final review

of the Public Convenience service provision to Cabinet.

 

Minutes:

The Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) introduced a report to update the Committee on the final stage of the Public Conveniences Review.  He provided background information and advised that the final step of the review would consider the future of the remaining public convenience facilities in the County.

 

The Chief Officer referred to the five dedicated public convenience facilities which were operated by the Authority.  He reported that a further review of service had taken place and drew attention to the recommendations for future provision as detailed in the report.  He explained that it was proposed that the Authority promote the use of existing toilet facilities within Council buildings and cited leisure centres, libraries, and Connects Centres as examples, instead of the dedicated and sometimes isolated facilities which had been previously provided.  The Chef Officer advised that expressions of interest had been received from some Town and Community Councils in taking over public convenience facilities which could form part of Corporate Asset Transfers.  He also referred to the use of commercial facilities such as local businesses, which with the assistance of grant funding from the Welsh Government, could make their facilities available to the general public.

 

The Chief Officer emphasised the need for clear and consistent signage to be provided in town centres so the public were made aware of where public conveniences were available.

 

The Chief Officer drew attention to the Public Health Bill unveiled by the Welsh Government in June 2015 which placed a duty on local authorities to prepare and publish strategies for the provision of toilets for public use within their area.  He advised that whilst the Authority had closed a number of dedicated facilities access to their Council owned toilets had been improved.

 

Councillor Chris Dolphin commented on the need for easily accessible public convenience facilities to be provided for the elderly, disabled people, and young children.  These needed to be situated close to shops and local amenities.  He expressed the view that there should be a public convenience located in every town centre.  Councillor Clive Carver commented on the implications for people who had health problems. 

 

Councillor Dolphin raised further concerns around meeting the needs of a large number of people during public events and said that some of the Council owned buildings which had been suggested could be used as an alternative facility to isolated buildings, for example Connects Centres, were not open at evenings or weekends.  He also referred to the £500 grant from the WG to assist local businesses and shops with existing facilities to make provision for the public and said the amount was inadequate to support or encourage use at such premises.  Councillor Dolphin said he supported the initiative of liaison with Town and Community Councils to consider the feasibility of taking over the maintenance and operation of public conveniences.   

 

In response to the concerns raised by Councillor Dolphin concerning access and availability, Councillor Bernie Attridge commented on the proposal to consider use of the public facilities which were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55