Agenda item

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of the Built Environment which provided an update on the Public Conveniences Strategy to ensure toilets were provided of a type, in locations and at a time that suited potential users.  

Members queried whether the cost of using the facilities was deterring members of the public from using the facilities. The Director informed Members that the charge of 50p was consistent with other Local Authorities such as the city of Westminster and seemed to be accepted by users given the low number of complaints.

Discussions ensued regarding the non-use of the facilities at locations in Bishopsgate and Cheapside[OK1] . The Director informed Members that having considered an analysis of the usage trends it would appear that opening these facilities would not be cost-effective. However, the Director agreed to further analyse the use of facilities at Bishopsgate, and whether it would be cost effective to open the facilities at this location. He also agreed to consider whether the toilet for the use of people with disabilities at the Monument could be made available to the general public although concern was expressed that the facility may be too small for such use.

Members queried whether further locations could be included in the community Toilet Scheme (CTS) scheme. The Director informed Members that as this was a voluntary scheme potential members were always welcome to take part. There was no strategy on targeting specific wards, but the scheme relied on services joining voluntarily.

RESOLVED:- That,

1)     the actions taken be noted and the Corporation continue to support the Public Conveniences Strategy;

2)     the current charging policy at Tower Hill and Paternoster Square with a 50p charge be continued;

3)     a 50p charge at Royal Exchange and Eastcheap conveniences, be introduced, subject to a capital bid for the installation of barriers being approved through the corporate Project Procedure;

4)     Officers be requested to explore further options to offset the impact of the AWR including undertaking a soft market test of the service of the next year and report the findings back to Committee; and

5)     the successful development of the CTS in achieving 75 members be noted.