Council                                                        Agenda Item 112

Subject:                    Post-Budget Changes to the Toilet Tax

Date of meeting:    26 March 2026

Proposer:                 Councillor McNair

Seconder:                Councillor Meadows

Ward(s) affected:   All

Notice of Motion

Conservative Group

This council notes:

1. In Budget Council, £70,000 was earmarked to be raised by introducing charges at 5 seafront toilets; 

2. This caused huge upset amongst community groups including the Older People’s Council; 

3. The council was not exploring the introduction of toilet charges as they had put forward this projected income in the budget, so they have now failed to provide a balanced budget; 

4. A £70,000 shortfall will now have to be found;

5. Changes to the budget so quickly after it has been voted on undermines public confidence in the process. 

This council resolves to:

1. Request that the relevant Overview & Scrutiny Committee considers the establishment of a task & finish group to explore the tightening of budget processes to minimise changes to the agreed Budget once it has been set by full Council; 

2. Request officers to bring a report to Cabinet setting out why the Council found it necessary to U-turn on toilet charges despite the known risks in the EIA; why it was not identified prior to the publication of the budget; how the budgetary impact will be met and reported and whether further changes to the agreed Budget are proposed; 

3. Request that the Administration consider issuing an apology to residents for distress caused.