Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee

Agenda Item 77


       

Subject:                    Public Toilets

 

Date of meeting:    17 January 2022

 

Report of:                 Executive Director: Economy, Environment & Culture

 

Contact Officer:      Name: Lynsay Cook

                                    Tel: 07592 103604

                                    Email: Lynsay.cook@brighton-hove.gov.uk

                                   

Ward(s) affected:   All

 

For general release

 

1.            Purpose of the report and policy context

 

1.1         The Public Toilet Team within City Environment is responsible for 36 public toilets sites across the city. This report provides committee with:

·         An update on current service provision in light of the decision to close some public toilets across the city in response to an increasing budget pressure in-year

·         The service provision from 1 April 2023 in light of the budget pressures experienced in 2022/23 and the proposed £0.300m saving proposed as part of the 2023/24 draft budget savings

·         An update on the Public Toilet Refurbishment Programme.

 

1.2         The report is also seeking approval for the introduction of charging at some sites in the city to sustain as much public toilet provision as possible and reduce the likelihood of further closures.

 

1.3         The report also addresses the Public Toilet Notice of Motion agreed, as amended, at this committee on 15 November 2022.

 

2.            Recommendations

 

2.1         That Committee notes the contents of the report.

 

2.2         That Committee agrees to the introduction of charging at public toilet sites in line with the principles set out in paragraph 3.27.

 

3.            Context and background information

 

Public toilets

 

3.1         Under the Public Health Act 1936, local authorities in England and Wales have a power, not a duty, to provide toilets for use by the public. Therefore, public toilets are not a statutory service.

 

 

3.2         For 2022/23, the public toilet budget was £0.905m. As reported to Policy & Resources Committee (P&R) on 1 December 2022, the overspend at TBM07 was forecast to be £0.137m. At P&R Committee on 1 December 2022, committee noted the Draft Budget Strategies and first draft of savings for 2023/24 which included a £0.300m saving on the public toilet budget. It is important to note that, in light of the recently announced Local Government Finance Settlement, additional savings are likely to be required, which may include further savings from the public toilet budget. This could mean more toilets have to close or remain closed, until self-financing models can be implemented.

 

3.3         Since 2015/16, the public toilet budget has reduced by £0.351m. In 2016/17, a £0.040m budget saving resulted in the permanent closure of two public toilets, four toilet sites closing for the winter months and a further site having a reduction in attendant time. For 2022/23, £0.100m was added to the public toilet budget to mitigate the increased maintenance costs due to the age and condition of many of the public toilets.

 

Service provision 2022/23

 

3.4         On 1 July 2021, a decision was made to insource the cleaning and maintenance of public toilets from a private contractor. This was because the contractor delivery model was not as effective as anticipated, partly due to the contractual arrangements and partly due to the age and condition of many of the public toilets. A review of delivery options was completed, and the staff were transferred to Brighton & Hove City Council from 1 February 2022.

 

3.5         Upon the transfer of the staff, some issues were identified within the service relating to health & safety and lone working. Some opening and closing times were changed to mitigate the risk of anti-social behaviour. A detailed service review was undertaken to fully understand how the service operated with a view to making positive change.

 

3.6         The outcomes sought from the service review were to:

·         Ensure staff work in a safe environment

·         Review shift patterns and contracts to ensure they comply with the Working Time Directive and that zero-hour contracts are replaced with regular hours contracts

·         Ensure that resources are maximised to guarantee the best use of staff, vehicles and equipment

·         Ensure that toilets are well maintained through a responsive cleaning and maintenance team

·         Provide a clear management structure

·         Provide clear policies and Standard Operating Procedures

·         Provide a service that operates within the budget.

 

3.7         Through the redesign and TBM process over the course of 2022, it was identified that the portfolio of 36 sites could not be opened and maintained within budget and satisfy all the outcomes listed in paragraph 3.6. This was due to:

·         Staffing costs rising substantially and unexpectedly since the insourcing was planned due to the harmonisation to Brighton & Hove terms and conditions which saw some staff move from low-cost split shifts to normal working patterns and included the corporate pay increases for the lowest paid staff

·         Increasing utilities costs

·         Increasing reactive maintenance costs, due to the lack of investment in public toilets over several years.

 

3.8         Consequently, and to manage the budget pressure, 11 sites were closed. Four sites were closed pending refurbishment. Four sites are usually closed in the winter months. 17 public toilet sites remain open across the city, and this is an important financial commitment from the council, considering the points in paragraph 3.7.

 

3.9         The decision to close some public toilets was not taken lightly. The decision was made to manage a forecasted £0.400m pressure at TBM06. At that time, the council’s financial position was forecasting an overspend of £13 million. Furthermore, high levels of long-term staff absence meant there were insufficient staff to maintain the facilities usually open in the winter to a standard which was safe or acceptable for public use. Employing agency staff to cover them would have increased the overspend and, in any event, the agency was unable to supply any suitable candidates. The closure of toilets was designed to help reduce the overspend and reduce the potential impact on other council services should the overspend grow. The forecasted overspend has reduced to £0.137m at TBM07.

 

Service provision from 1 April 2023

 

3.10      A significant amount of work has been completed to consider the impact of the proposed £0.300m saving to the public toilet budget. This has been completed alongside the service redesign work which identified the 36 sites could not be opened and maintained within the £0.905m budget. Appendix 1 sets out the results of this work, detailing sites will be open with a £0.605m budget and which ones will be open with a £0.905m budget. If further savings are required, it may be necessary to close all sites until a self-financing model, facilitated through the introduction of charging, has been implemented, or by transferring facilities. Appendix 2 contains a map of the sites across Brighton & Hove.

 

3.11      With a £0.605m budget:

·         16 sites will remain open, with seven of these sites closed in the winter

·         18 sites will be closed from 1 April 2023

·         Two sites are under further discussion: Royal Pavilion Gardens and The Level.

 

3.12      With a £0.905m budget:

·         24 sites will remain open, with seven of these sites closed in the winter

·         10 sites will be closed from 1 April 2023

·         Two sites are under further discussion: Royal Pavilion Gardens and The Level.

 

3.13      City Environment is looking at the alternative options to enable public toilets to stay open without council funds. This includes handing over sites to third parties, where it is appropriate to do so. This is a medium-to-long term piece of work and involves working with other council teams and stakeholders. Further work is also required to determine what the options are for the buildings that are unlikely to be handed over, as some may have opportunities as commercial lets. The first stage is to ensure the public toilet service functions within its budget.

 

3.14      Other toilet facilities are available across the city. This includes those available in shopping centres, shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.

 

3.15      Library toilets are available for use by library users. Libraries are open to anyone in the city, provided they abide by the Library Byelaws. There are some people who are banned for specific lengths of time, and so there may be an impact on some members of the street community, if some public toilets are closed. Library toilets do not have space or facilities for the street community to use toilets to wash (other than hands) and this is not allowed.

 

3.16      It is also important to note that as part of the Draft Budget Strategies and first draft of savings for 2023/24, community libraries across the city will be unstaffed for five days a week or more. If this saving is approved, only people with a Libraries Extra card access the libraries and use the toilets.  Most members of the street community people will not be Libraries Extra members as there is a requirement for an address and other contact details to use a library that is unstaffed.  However, in the city centre, the Jubilee Library would remain fully staffed under current savings proposals.

 

3.17      The facilities available to rough sleepers include:

·         First Base on Montpelier Place on weekday mornings

·         Antifreeze on Portland Road

·         Clocktower Sanctuary on North Street for young people.

 

3.18      An Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) to consider the impacts of toilet closures is at Appendix 3. The closure of some public toilet sites will have a disproportionate impact on some protected characteristics, as well as a negative impact on the general public. This will be mitigated, to some extent, by the actions detailed within the EIA. The purpose of closing some sites is to ensure the service can operate within budget and not impact on other council services. Public toilets are a non-statutory service and statutory services are having to be prioritised with the limited council budget available.

 

Refurbishment Programme

 

3.19      The refurbishment of the Phase 1 sites started on Monday 28 November 2022[1]. It is anticipated these sites will open in the spring. If the recommendation to introduce charging is approved by this committee, further building work is required to accommodate the installation of charging mechanisms, which will slightly extend the programme of work. It is not known at this stage how long this will take and is dependent on the decision from this committee.

 

3.20      Consideration is now being given to Phase 2 sites in light of the proposed budget reduction from 1 April 2023 and of the potential of some sites to generate income, subject to committee approval. 

 

Royal Pavilion Gardens and The Level toilets

 

3.21      It is acknowledged that the public toilets on Princes Place near the Royal Pavilion Gardens are in a central location and need refurbishment. The Royal Pavilion Garden toilets are unlikely to be refurbished in the next phase of the Refurbishment Programme. There are very high levels of anti-social behaviour and drug use in these toilets which makes it unsafe for members of the public and our staff. These problems also make it much harder to maintain and keep the toilets clean. 

 

3.22      The site has been reviewed alongside a Public Conveniences Problem Reduction Guide produced by Hertfordshire Constabulary. This document highlights the best crime prevention practice in toilet design, such as ensuring the entrance is visible and in areas of high passing footfall. Based on this guide, there are concerns about whether the location of the building is suitable for a public toilet. Discussions have also taken place with the council's Head of Architecture & Design and Community Safety Teams, as well as Sussex Police, to identify options to reduce to the risk to the site, staff and members of the public and the options are limited. The orientation and location of this site needs to be carefully considered prior to any investment, which could end up being wasted if the behavioural issues and vandalism are not resolved first. Therefore, before the money is spent on refurbing the facility as-is, it is now preferable to close these toilets while works continues to address the behavioural issues and vandalism.

 

3.23      The Level Toilets are currently closed due to significant issues with the building they are housed in, The Velo Café, which require substantial remedial work and investment to bring the building and toilets back into use. Further to this, these toilets are the focus of anti-social behaviour and drug dealing. The location and orientation may also be a factor that needs to be considered. The Level café and toilets are subject to an options appraisal at present and the options will be presented to committee for a decision in Spring/Summer 2023. 

 

3.24      Officers are working with stakeholders to develop practical options and a further report will be brought to this committee on the future of these toilets.

 

3.25      There is alternative provision in the area, including Jubilee Library, the museum, Churchill Square and bars and restaurants.

 

Charging

 

3.26      The council has a significant budget shortfall for 2023/24. To help reduce the shortfall and to supplement the current public toilet budget, it is proposed that charging is introduced at some sites across the city.

 

3.27      The principles of the charging model are:

·         Charging is introduced at sites after they have been refurbished. After completion of Phase 1 of the Refurbishment Programme, this will include Daltons, Kings Esplanade, Saltdean Undercliff and Station Road

·         Charging will be reintroduced at Shelter Hall and West Pier Arches, which already have permission to charge

·         The charge will be between 75p at seafront sites

·         The charge will be 50p at other sites

·         Payment will be by card only

·         Access to accessible facilities and Changing Places Toilets will be free of charge to those with a RADAR key

 

3.28      Research is being completed to identify whether pre-paid cards are an option for those without a credit or debit card. This will be incorporated into the principles of the model, if feasible.

 

3.29      Payment will be by card only due to the costs involved in cash collection and the risk of anti-social behaviour if cash was contained in the paddle gates. When charging was previously approved, the cost of cash collection was analysed and meant that charging at some sites was financially unviable, with some sites resulting in a net cost to introduce charging. Payment by card only provides a more financially sustainable and safe model.

 

3.30      It is not proposed to introduce charging at Park Road, Rottingdean, even though the site is currently undergoing a refurbishment. There are two reasons for this: 1) the refurbishment is being funded by Rottingdean Parish Council, not Brighton & Hove City Council, and 2) based on the estimated footfall, it is anticipated the cost of charging will exceed the income generated.

 

3.31      It is complex to determine the income to be generated without current footfall data or knowing what the impact on footfall will be following the introduction of charging. Income will be reviewed following implementation and will inform whether additional sites can be refurbished to introduce further chargeable sites and maintained within budget.

 

3.32      Published research from Healthmatic details the impact charging can have on footfall:

·         For residents, the impact of imposing a charge will depend on the quality of the toilets. In research carried out by local authorities, people say they would pay for toilets if they were clean, tidy and safe.

·         A 20p charge will halve the usage for a quality toilet. At 50p this will rise to a 75% reduction.

·         Tourists are less price sensitive to toilet charging than local people for two reasons:

o   Little knowledge of the alternative provision

o   An acceptance of charging while away from home

·         The introduction of charging will therefore have less effect in those areas that are more tourist orientated. In addition, visitors are less price elastic meaning they are less sensitive to the actual level of the charge.

·         The combination of low impact on volumes and low sensitivity to charging in more visitor orientated areas, means that charging will earn revenue without dramatically affecting the number of people seeking and using the toilet.

 

3.33      Most chargeable sites will be on the seafront and therefore, based on the research, less affected by the introduction of a charge, in terms of usage. Some other considerations are that some of the sites proposed for charging will have free sites nearby, both other council-run toilets, plus restaurants, café and bars. This may mean people choose to use the free toilets, rather than the chargeable ones. Conversely, some people may choose not to use public toilets at present due to their current poor condition. Once they are refurbished and more pleasant to use, people may then choose to use them, despite the charge. Together, these all lead to the complexity in forecasting income.

 

3.34      Research has been completed into the costs of introducing charging: both the capital investment required for the installation of paddle gates, and the ongoing revenue costs in terms of maintenance of a pay-by-card system and transaction charges. The average charge is around 3% per transaction. There are also costs associated with SIM cards and the maintenance of the paddle gates. Taking these costs into account, a very rough estimate is that £0.120m could be generated from the introduction of charging at Daltons, Kings Esplanade, Saltdean Undercliff, Shelter Hall, Station Road and West Pier Arches. This is not sufficient to prevent at least 10 toilet sites from closing from 1 April 2023, even if the £0.300m proposed saving is not approved by Budget Council. It is likely that income generated will be used to support the maintenance and staffing of remaining toilet sites in future years.

 

3.35      This income has not been modelled into the service provision from 1 April 2023. It will not be possible to generate any income until later in the year due to the time needed to make the necessary changes at each site to install paddle gates and the procurement of a pay-by-card provider. Furthermore, because of the complexities of forecasting income, it is not fiscally prudent to rely on this income to fund the service yet. Approval is being sought now on the introduction of charging to allow for the infrastructure to be put in place and for procurement to start, rather than at a later date.

 

3.36      Permission was previously given in October 2018 to introduce charging at some public toilet sites. This was for 30p and was to fund the Refurbishment Programme. This is now being funded corporately so there is no need to cover these costs.

 

3.37      An EIA to consider the impacts of charging at public toilets is at Appendix 4. The introduction of charging at some public toilet sites will have a disproportionate impact on some protected characteristics, as well as a negative impact on the general public. This will be mitigated, to some extent, by the actions detailed in the EIA. The purpose of introducing charging is to sustain as much public toilet provision as possible and reduce the likelihood of further closures, which would have a further negative impact on members of the public.

 

Notice of Motion

 

3.38      A Notice of Motion concerning public toilets was agreed, as amended, by this committee on 15 November 2022.

 

3.39      Point 1 of the Notice of Motion notes concerns from across the community about the sudden closure of 17 public toilet sites in the city.

 

3.40      As mentioned above, City Environment is responsible for 36 sites across the city. This does not include toilets in libraries, leisure centres or museums. 11 sites were closed to manage the overspend. Four sites were closed for refurbishment. Four sites are usually closed in the winter months. 17 sites remain open.

 

3.41      Point 2 of the Notice of Motion expresses concern that a report was not brought to committee before decisions were made about closures with regard to toilets not closed temporarily for refurbishments.

 

3.42      The budget overspend was identified at TBM06. There was not time available to bring a report to committee to make a decision on closing sites, without allowing the overspend to increase.

 

3.43      Point 3 of the Notice of Motion recognises that genuine consultation with ward councillors, local residents associations and stakeholders is required before any closures are implemented.

 

3.44      Where there is a long lead in time for proposed changes, consultation can be planned, and feedback considered before any decisions are made. However, in an urgent situation, where there is not sufficient budget to provide a non-statutory service, in-depth consultation is not possible because of time constraints and available resources.

 

3.45      Point 4 of the Notice of Motion restates the request at Full Council in July for alternative provision to be made available whilst refurbishment work is undertaken in locations that continue to be heavily used during the winter months, such as Hove Promenade, and requests officers consider interim measures including, but not limited to, the provision of portaloos.

 

3.46      A budget would need to be allocated to fund alternative provision, including portaloos. There is no identified budget for this purpose. If the toilet refurbishment budget is used for this purpose, less funding will be available to refurbish other toilets across the city. The refurbishments have been programmed for the lower footfall months to avoid their busiest usage times.

 

3.47      Point 5 of the Notice of Motion requests officers engage with local businesses to see if their toilets can be made available for public use.

 

3.48      Research has been completed into Community Toilet Schemes (CTS) operated by other local authorities. This is detailed in Appendix 5. Based on the research, CTS take various forms and vary in size. All have at least one member of staff facilitating the scheme and the majority pay a fee to each business partaking in the scheme. This ranges from £300 to £1560 per annum.

 

3.49      If the council wanted to introduce a CTS, a budget would need to be allocated. This would be to fund a dedicated officer to administer the scheme and pay businesses to participate. At present, there is no identified budget for this purpose. An alternative is for the CTS to be funded from the public toilet budget, which would reduce the number of sites that could be opened. Therefore, at this time, it is not recommended at a CTS is introduced. As an alternative, if a business wishes to open their toilets to non-customers, they can notify the council and the details can be added to the public toilet pages on council website.

 

3.50      Point 5 also requests officers to ensure adequate signposting to these alternative facilities is provided.

 

3.51      As detailed in paragraph 3.49, a CTS is not recommended at this stage due to the costs involved. Where toilets are closed from 1 April 2023, signage will be placed on the toilets notifying the public of where the nearest alternatives are. 

 

3.52      Point 6 calls for an urgent report that considers all options to re-open public toilets at the earliest opportunity.

 

3.53      With the budget available and the expenditure needed, it is not possible to reopen all public toilets. Appendix 1 sets out the sites to be open with a £0.605m budget and which ones will be open with a £0.905m budget. Work is being completed to consider the alternative options to enable more public toilets to stay open without council funds. This includes handing over sites to third parties, where it is appropriate to do so. This is a medium-to-long term piece of work and involves working with other council teams and stakeholders.

 

Toilet provision across the UK

 

3.54      A July 2022 report from the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) presents the results of a survey conducted with APSE member councils on public toilet provision, income generation and other public toilet matters. It provides a useful insight into public toilet provision by other local authorities and some of the changes they have had to make in recent years.

 

3.55      Some of the pertinent points to note are:

·         58.03% of the respondents stated the provision provided by the council has decreased or significantly decreased since 2012.

·         47.06% report that they had ceased providing the provision more than three years ago, with a further 29.41% advising that it was more than two years ago.

·         A quarter of respondent’s report that lack of resources is one of the main reasons for not providing the facilities.

·         40.91% of respondents stated budgetary pressures were the driver for a review of public toilet provision and 30.30% cite the cost of providing the provision as a driver to undertake a review.

·         70.00% of respondents stated that vandalism and anti-social behaviour is the greatest challenge in providing public toilets, closely followed by budgetary pressures with 67.50%.

·         59.46% reported that they did not charge, 31.08% charge for some of the provision and only 9.46% advise that a charge is made for all or the majority of their toilets.

·         The amount charged by authorities ranged from 10p or less up to £1. The most common amount respondents stated that they charged for the provision was 20p with 34.21% reporting this was the case.

·         46.15% report that the charge is levied to cover the cost of running the provision. In the comments associated with the question, respondents advised they made a charge to deter vandalism and antisocial behaviour.

 

4.            Analysis and consideration of alternative options

 

4.1         This report primarily provides an update on activities within the public toilet service.

 

4.2         There are limited options available given the two budget scenarios and the costs of providing public toilets. A significant amount of work has gone into determining which public toilets remain open. This was driven by several factors, including: the opportunity to generate income (subject to committee approval), the refurbishment status, the availability of other facilities in the vicinity and likely users. Travel time between sites and the time required for cleaning was also considered.

 

4.3         Public toilets are not a statutory service. It is important to note that, in light of the recently announced Local Government Finance Settlement, additional savings are likely to be required, which may include further savings from the public toilet budget.

 

4.4         To open all toilets, a minimum of £0.400m would need to be added to the 2022/23 budget. More may be required depending on the future cost of utilities.

 

4.5         A decision is sought on the introduction of charging at some public toilet sites. An alternative is to not introduce charging which will place further pressure on the core public toilet budget, and the council’s budget as a whole.

 

5.            Community engagement and consultation

 

5.1      Feedback has been received following the October 2022 closures via the public toilet mailbox, which is maintained as one means of stakeholders’ providing their views on provision. The sites to be opened from 1 April 2023 were considered alongside this feedback, as well as the points highlighted in 4.2. That feedback was also included in the EIAs in Appendix 3 and Appendix 4. These were completed to ensure the council applies its discretion fairly and in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty. The EIAs provide reassurance regarding the consideration given to the potential impact of the proposals on protected and vulnerable groups.

 

6.            Conclusion

 

6.1         This report sets out the current service provision, service provision from 1 April 2023 in light of the budget pressures experienced in 2022/23 and the proposed 2023/24 budget saving and an update on the Public Toilet Refurbishment Programme. The report also addresses the Public Toilet Notice of Motion agreed, as amended, at this committee on 15 November 2022. The report is also seeking approval for the introduction of charging at some sites in the city.

 

6.2         Public toilets are a non-statutory service and therefore the council is under no obligation to provide them. The budget challenges mean difficult decisions need to be taken as to what sites remain open with the budget available. Appendix 1 details which sites will remain open under the two potential budget scenarios, and the rationale for choosing which sites remain open and which ones will, sadly, have to close. For the sites that will close, officers will continue to look at what the alternative options are to enable more public toilets to stay open without council funds. This includes handing over sites to third parties, where it is appropriate to do so.

 

7.            Financial implications

 

7.1         There are no direct financial implications from recommendation 2.1 as the report is for noting.

 

7.2         Agreeing to the recommendation 2.2 of the introduction of charging at public toilet sites, in line with the principles set out in section 3.27, supports the draft budget savings proposals reported to P&R Committee on 1 December 2022. The savings proposal includes keeping toilets open where possible with introduction of charging or handover to a third party to mitigate costs; or close permanently. The savings will be achieved through reductions in maintenance, energy and consumable costs, potentially staffing reductions and with income generation from charging users. Without the option for income generation to support this savings proposal, further closures may be required to achieve the savings proposal and to ensure the service operates within budget.

 

7.3         Costs associated with the installation of pay barriers as part of toilets refurbishment works will be contained within existing Public Toilet Refurbishment Programme Capital scheme but will impact on the number of sites refurbished overall. Any spend above the agreed programme will require additional funding potentially through charging once widely established in later years of the programme.

 

Name of finance officer consulted: John Lack    Date consulted: 22/12/2022

 

8.            Legal implications

 

8.1         The Council is not under a legal duty to provide public conveniences. It does however have the discretionary power to provide them pursuant to section 87 of the Public Health Act 1936 (as amended). These proposals include the proposal to apply its discretion ‘to charge such fees for the use of any such conveniences as they think fit’ in a limited way.

 

8.2         Notwithstanding the absence of an express statutory duty to carry out a formal consultation process on the proposals outlined here, the Council is nonetheless required to exercise its discretion fairly and in accordance with the Public Sector Equalities Duty (Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010). The proposals outlined here reflect the investment made in considering the potential impact of changes to discretionary facilities provision on vulnerable people and the due regard given to its impact on protected groups. The detailed Equalities Impact Assessment attached at Appendix 3 reflects the best available information regarding the possible impact of the proposals, as well as the steps available to mitigate any adverse impact. It evidences the attention given to ensuring that the Council’s overriding duty to act fairly in the exercise of discretionary functions has been discharged.

 

Name of lawyer consulted: Victoria Simpson      Date consulted: 04/01/2023

 

9.            Equalities implications

 

9.1         The council has no statutory obligation to provide public toilets and Appendix 1 of this paper details which sites will remain open in the two budget scenarios. This is still a significant number of public toilets across the city and includes sites with accessible facilities. It is considered that a reduction in the number of public toilets across the city and/or the introduction of charging may result in the following implications:

·         A negative impact on equalities and accessibility in the city

·         A negative impact on those with health issues being able to leave home and go out in the community

 

9.2      An Equalities Impact Assessment to understand the impacts of closures is at Appendix 3 and charging at Appendix 4.

 

10.         Sustainability implications

 

10.1      Closing toilets will reduce energy consumption and costs, as well as the use of consumables.

 

10.2      The Public Toilet Refurbishment Programme is introducing motion sensor lighting, taps and hand driers, reducing electricity and water consumption.

 

11.         Other Implications

 

Social Value and procurement implications

 

11.1      Procurement of paddle gates and a pay-by-card provider are required and will follow appropriate procurement policies and procedures.

 

Crime & disorder implications

 

11.2      Anecdotal evidence has indicated that the introduction of charging for toilet usage may lead to lower levels of anti-social behaviour, resulting in less vandalism and drug taking in toilets. So far this year, over 900 pieces of drug and anti-social behaviour paraphernalia have been removed from public toilets, including needles, condoms, tin foil and razors. This is only the paraphernalia that is reported. It is likely that much goes unreported and some paraphernalia goes down the toilet, in the sanitary bins and elsewhere. Therefore, the actual usage of such items is probably much higher.

 

11.3      There could be an increase in public defecation and urination through the introduction of charging.

 

Public health implications

 

11.4    It is recognised that toilet closures and toilet charges will have public health implications, particularly with regards to physical activities and sports. Unfortunately, with the budget available, some of the sites in parks and open spaces will have to close. The work to look at the alternative options to enable public toilets to stay open without council funds, will, hopefully, result in some of these facilities being reopened and sustained.

 

Supporting Documentation

 

Appendices

 

1.    Public toilet provision from 1 April 2023

2.    Map of public toilets by ward

3.    Equality Impact Assessment – public toilet closures

4.    Equality Impact Assessment – public toilet charging

5.    Community Toilet Scheme research

 

Background documents

 

1.    Public Toilet Cleaning and Maintenance Contract presented to Policy & Resources Committee on 1 July 2021 (item 19)

2.    Public Conveniences Problem Reduction Guide available at http://www.btaloos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/PubliclyAvailableToiletsProblemReductionGuide.pdf

3.    Public Toilets – Notice of Motion presented to Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 15 November 2022

4.    Charging and Access Control to Public Toilets available at https://www.healthmatic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Healthmatic_Charging_and_Access.pdf

5.    APSE Local Authority Public Conveniences Survey 2022 available at https://www.apse.org.uk/index.cfm/apse/members-area/briefings/2022/22-25-local-authority-public-conveniences/



[1] Phase 1 sites are: Daltons, Kings Esplanade, Saltdean Undercliff and Station Road