Decision details

Agreed

That the following be noted:-

(1)        In common with many cities around the UK, the Councils public toilets no longer serve the needs of residents and were costly to maintain.  Many were hidden away and in poor condition.  They attract serious and repeated anti-social behaviour including widespread drug use and are regularly vandalised.  Understandably many are infrequently used;

(2)        Further central government funding reductions mean that the City Council had to find an additional saving of £3.9 million over the next two financial years.  Every service was being challenged to ensure that it provides value for money and all non-statutory services were under considerable pressure.  Public conveniences were not a statutory service and the Council no longer had enough funding to maintain all the sites it operate;

(3)        the Council operate 26 public conveniences across the City Council area, with two of those currently closed due to anti-social behaviour; and

(4)        a consultation on proposals to rationalise the Councils existing provision to a more manageable number and suggested alternative proposals to improve the availability of good quality publically accessible toilets be approved  and the consultation results be brought back to Executive to make the final decision.

Reason for Decision:

As set out in the report.