Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director, Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Environment in respect of Public Convenience Provision.

During the discussion the following points were noted:

1. Officers advised the Committee that although financial challenges remained considerable effort had been made to improve toilet provisions within the City and officers were seeking to maximise already available toilet provisions through revenue and the Cyclical Works Programme.

2. Both physical and electronic formats of signage containing information relating to toilets was to be updated to ensure that public toilet provision information within the City was accurate.

3. In response to a question regarding Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Funding and on-street parking and whether these could be use for public toilet provisions within the City the Committee were informed that funds derived from on-street parking had to be used within the on-street public realm for enhancement and this had been extended to on-street cleaning. Although the CIL fund could be used for capital investment, such as refurbishment, it could not be allocated to staffing or running costs of public toilet provisions.

4. In respect of bids, conversations with individual businesses had taken place in regarding funding and street cleaning and gardens maintenance had been highlighted as areas of investment, and it was expected that further conversations to include toilet provisions would take place.

5. Historically Automatic Public Conveniences (APCs) were the subject of significant anti-social behaviour however staffed toilets were well maintained and experience fewer instances of anti-social behaviour.

6. Regarding the amount of public conveniences in terms of benchmarking the square mile was noted to be in a better position than Islington and Camden. Although Members were advised that whilst benchmarking was appropriate there was no required level since there was no statutory function.

7. Train stations had contributed to the increase in number of public toilet conveniences with the Mayor of London setting aside further funding for this across the London Underground Network.

8. Officers appreciated that the nature of planning development had changed from full demolition into rebuild and would continue work with planning colleague to ensure that publicly available toilets was involved in planning development. Officers agreed to the suggestion that hotel services could be approached regarding access to their toilets to members of the public.

9. A Member noted the running costs of the two staffed toilets and asked if the utilisation of car park toilets would be a cost-effective solution. Officers informed the Committee that there was signage on London Wall advertising toilets in the public car park underneath. However, the monitoring and management remained a challenge for Tower Hill, St Paul’s and Paternoster Square.

10.  Members questioned whether moving to cashless payment would be a more viable option and were advised that over 35% of users were still paying by cash and officers were hesitant to remove cash an option given the tourist nature of sites such as Tower Hill. The Committee agreed to consider any changes to fees and charges for the two staffed facilities at a subsequent meeting.

RESOLVED, that – the report was received and its contents noted.