Agenda item

That Scrutiny note the future delivery option for each of the Public Convenience Facilities shown in Appendix 1 and that the following comments be recorded:

• That the possible impacts on tourism be taken into account, particularly in Caerwys and Cilcain.
• The need for clear signage.
• That facilities maintained by the Council are DDA compliant and have baby change facilities.
• That local members had not been consulted in the way that they would have liked during the course of this review and that proper consultation be undertaken in the future.
• That the Committee be informed of discussions between the Council and the local Members for Cilcain and Caerwys, including the Town & Community Councils.

The Head of Streetscene introduced the report on the revised delivery arrangements for the Council’s Public Conveniences.  He explained that it was not a statutory requirement for the council to provide public conveniences and that some stand alone facilities were no longer fit for purpose. The Council wished to look at a model based on the revision of existing council facilities and the use of private facilities.  Morrisons Supermarkets in Saltney received £500 per year from the Welsh Government to allow the public to use their toilets.  This development had enabled the Council to close the stand alone Council owned facility in the town that was no longer fit for purpose.

            The Head of Streetscene said that the council would speak to Town and Community Councils to see if they would be prepared to take over the management of public conveniences. He added that a new signage scheme for public conveniences would be implemented so that the public would be aware of any new arrangements.  Details of the revised provision were outlined in Appendix 1 to the report. 

            Councillor P. Shotton thanked the Head of Streetscene for a clear report.  He asked about the numbers of local businesses that had already come forward regarding the £500 grant.  The Head of Streetscene said that there had been a number of enquires from businesses, although no grants had been allocated as yet.

            Councillor N.M. Matthews said that she had visited all of the Council owned/subsidised facilities over the previous summer and found all but two to be in good order.  She voiced concerns about the proposed closure of facilities at Cilcain and Caerwys and the effect on tourism and asked what alternatives would be put in place in those areas.  The Head of Streetscene said that the Council would approach the Community Councils in those areas to offer support and to see if there were any private businesses willing to participate in the grant scheme.

            Councillor D. Evans asked if income from car parking could be used to provide new public conveniences.  The Cabinet Member for Environment said that the report had already been to Cabinet and that it was not the Council’s intention to look at building new toilets.  In the case of Shotton, Wetherspoons could offer its facilities to the public.  Councillor Evans asked how visitors to the area would be made aware of facilities on the main coast road.  The Cabinet Member for Environment said that new signage would be implemented.

            Councillor C. A. Thomas asked if all the reviewed facilities had been checked for disabled access and baby change facilities and if local members had been consulted.  The Cilcain Community Council had received a letter from the Council concerning the management of the public convenience but the figures quoted in the letter differed to those in the report.  She voiced her concern at the potential loss of a facility at Cilcain which was a tourist hub in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  The Head of Streetscene in response said that the more modern public conveniences were DDA compliant, but all of the facilities needed to be checked.  With regards to the letter sent to Cilcain Community Council, the figures quoted did not include water and energy charges.  He confirmed that the Council would be speaking to community groups to see if they would be prepared to take on the management of such facilities.  The local member for Cilcain had not been consulted at this stage of the review process.  The Council had written to the Community Council and had now spoken to the County Councillor. 

            Councillor M.J. Peers said that despite the low utilisation quoted in the report, Cilcain was on the tourist route and had little or no alternative facilities.

With reference to paragraph 3.04, Councillor Peers said that there was currently a lack of signage of public conveniences and asked if it could be looked at in conjunction with Area of Outstanding Natural beauty.  He asked for details of the costs of a “Superloo” system that was deemed “prohibitive” in paragraph 3.09 of the report.  Councillor Peers asked if current footfall from this recent study was consistent with previous studies as there were no footfall figures in the report.  The current report stated low usage in Holywell town centre although previous studies showed higher footfall there than in Flint.  The Head of Streetscene said that figures could be supplied.  He said that there were variances across Holywell and that footfall justified one unit.  He explained that the amount of capital investment and running charges made “Superloos” an unviable option.  He added that the Council would look at a local business to provide a facility in Cilcain in the longer term.

            Councillor V. Gay said that it was right to remove the public convenience at Saltney as it had attracted anti-social behaviour.  She asked why Mold Town Hall was not listed as a location.  The Head of Streetscene said that the Council did not contribute towards its running costs.  Councillor Gay asked why there was £9000 in the Saltney budget for the public convenience, when it had closed there.  The Head of Streetscene said that the budget review would realign the budget to the correct area.

            Councillor C. Legg said that it was important not to just look at footfall figures in the case of Cilcain, but to consider that the majority of users would be tourists and school parties and that there were no other alternative facilities.  The Head of Streetscene said that footfall figures would be circulated with the minutes.  These figures indicated that usage was low in Cilcain and Caerwys.  The Council hoped the Community Council would take them over or a local business would seek the £500 grant.

            The Cabinet Member for Environment said that the report had gone to Cabinet 2 months previously and they were aware, as were officers, of the urgent need to resolve the issue. 

            Councillor R. Hampson asked if a Flintshire Connects centre in Buckley could provide public conveniences.  The Cabinet Member for Environment  said that sites for future Flintshire Connects offices were being considered and the types of facilities to be offered would be discussed at the planning stage.

            Councillor H. Bateman asked if the subsidy was withdrawn from the Daniel Owen Centre if they could then apply for the Welsh Government grant.  The Cabinet Member for Environment said that this was not permissible under the grant scheme.

RESOLVED:

That Scrutiny note the future delivery option for each of the Public Convenience Facilities shown in Appendix 1 and that the following comments be recorded:

• That the possible impacts on tourism be taken into account, particularly in Caerwys and Cilcain.
• The need for clear signage.
• That facilities maintained by the Council are DDA compliant and have baby change facilities.
• That local members had not been consulted in the way that they would have liked during the course of this review and that proper consultation be undertaken in the future.
• That the Committee be informed of discussions between the Council and the local Members for Cilcain and Caerwys, including the Town & Community Councils.