Decision details

Publicly accessible toilet facilities are a fundamental need for everyone whenever they are “away from home”.  This Provision Strategy establishes a framework for future provision in a range of ways and by a range of providers and with a range of funding sources, to achieve an overall improved standard of quality, quantity and distribution.

(1) to ADOPT the Provision Strategy for Public Toilets in Bath & North East Somerset, 2011-2026, with reviews to be carried out every 5 years.

Strategic

A policy on the provision of public conveniences will contribute to the medium to long term goals and the Council’s priorities as noted in Section 4.  It will clearly define what the Council is seeking to provide in this area and may help to arrest any decline in the standard of provision brought about by reductions in budget.

Economic

The strategy will assist the Council in expanding the level of private provision of public conveniences which could replace and supplement existing Council-provided facilities and thereby relieve internal budgetary pressure.  It will set a standard intended to avert failure to manage the existing assets and resources necessary to provide a service.

Timescale

Approval of the strategy in 2011/12 will allow integration with the Local Development Framework and its progress, and other planning interventions that will facilitate and capitalise on future opportunities for funding contributions such as through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) (largely replacing the previous Section 106 planning obligations arrangements), Late Night Levy and other sources as they arise.

(1) Closure of some or all of the Council’s existing public toilet facilities

This would be contrary to the 2004 Executive Member decision (E075) “Public Convenience Provision” and have a significant detrimental impact on the residents and visitors.

(2) Major capital investment by the Council in redeveloping and upgrading existing public toilet facilities and in constructing new facilities in a number of key locations

This would be an unaffordable spend in the current economic climate on a non-statutory service.