Agenda item

The Public Open Space Manager and Operations Manager presented the report which presented the findings of the Informal Working Group for Public Toilets which had been established by the Environment and Community Panel with the remit or reviewing the provision of public toilets in the Borough.  The proposals were set out in part two of the report.

The Chairman read out two letters which he had received relating to the proposals, as follows:

-        Correspondence from Michael Ruston from Hunstanton Coastal Community Team which was a request to keep the Old Hunstanton block of toilets open as it was in a tourist area.

-        Correspondence from Downham Market Town Council which stated that their agreement to take on the Wales Court toilets was dependent on refurbishment of the toilets prior to transfer.

The Chairman thanked officers for their report and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

Councillor J Collop addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34.  He supported the proposal to reinstate seven day opening at the toilets in Ferry Street.  Councillor Collop explained that the King’s Lynn Area Consultative Committee had discussed the King’s Lynn facilities and the Committee  had supported the continued opening of the Broadwalk and Management Building toilets in the Walks but considered that as the Walks was a Borough-wide facility the cost of this should not be included in King’s Lynn Special Expenses.  Councillor Collop stated that he was opposed to the proposed closure of the Gaywood Toilets.  He felt that the surrounding area was vibrant and an important area of shopping and stated that shopkeepers did not like people coming into use their toilets during the trial closure of the public toilets.  He referred to the recommendation from the King’s Lynn Area Consultative Committee that the Gaywood toilets could be demolished, however they should be replaced with new facilities. 

Councillor Pope addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34.  He spoke in favour of closing the Gaywood public toilets and agreed that the Walks toilets were a Borough-wide benefit and should therefore not be charged to King’s Lynn Special Expenses.  He was also concerned that the refurbishment of the Wales Court, Downham Market toilets would be a significant cost to the Council.

Councillor Bird addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34.  In response to a question from Councillor Bird, it was confirmed that there were no plans at this stage to introduce any ‘pay to use’ toilets.  Investigations on introducing pay facilities had been carried out and would require huge financial investment.  Councillor Bird referred to the Old Hunstanton toilets and felt that it was unlikely that a small Parish Council like Old Hunstanton would be able to take on responsibility of the toilets.  He asked if consideration had been given to transferring the toilets to the Coastal Community Team.  Councillor Bird stated that lots of money was being invested in Hunstanton and felt that it would be a retrograde step to spend money on developing the resort and then taking away a well-used facility which was used by visitors and tourists.  He referred to the adjacent lifeboat station which raised money by opening to the public and collecting donations.  Councillor Bird also referred to the nearby beach huts, which had no other toilet provision.  He asked that consideration be given to asking beach hut owners to contribute to the facilities or give consideration to establishing a Community Interest Company.

Councillor Parish addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34.  He explained that Heacham Parish Council would like for the toilets to remain open as Heacham was a tourist resort.  He referred to the proposal from Heacham Sports and Social Club to take over the toilets, put in a new doorway and refurbish.  He explained that he had received correspondence from the Heacham Sports and Social Club that their intention was to close off the public access to the toilets so that they were for the sole use of the Social Club.  The Public Open Space Manager explained that he had been told that public access would remain and he agreed to investigate. 

Councillor Hipperson explained that ideally he would like all public facilities to remain open and for the provision in the Borough to be increased.  He suggested that a Policy be put in place to keep all facilities open. 

Councillor Bubb commented that he did not support the closure of the toilets at Old Hunstanton.  He stated that the adjacent Car Park was owned by a nearby hotel and asked if a contribution could be sought from them.  Councillor Bubb referred to the vandalism of the Gaywood toilets and he asked that if the toilets were to be demolished and rebuilt, they should be rebuilt in a different location.

Councillor Smith explained that he had suggested to the King’s Lynn Area Consultative Committee that the Gaywood toilets be demolished and rebuilt.  He agreed that an alternative location would be preferable so that vandalism was less likely.  Councillor Smith also commented that the Old Hunstanton Toilets should remain open.

Councillor Mrs Collop raised concern that the Informal Working Group had not met to consider the proposals and the results from the trial period.  The Chairman explained that on 23^rd November 2016, when the recommendations from the Informal Working Group were presented to the Environment and Community Panel the Panel resolved that a further report would be brought back to the Panel in due course, which was the report which was being considered today.  The recommendations from the Panel would then be subject to a future report to Cabinet.

Councillor Mrs Collop informed the Panel that she had sought the opinion from representatives from the Gaywood Library and Tesco’s on the temporary closure of the public toilets.  She explained that the Library had said that their costs had gone up as there had been an increase in usage of soap, toilet roll and cleaning materials etc. and the toilets had to be cleaned more frequently.  Councillor Mrs Collop stated that shopkeepers had also noticed an increase in people using their facilities, even if they were not buying anything.  She commented that she had also spoken to the Security at Tesco’s who had indicated an increased workload. 

Councillor Mrs Wilkinson commented that she would like both sets of the toilets at the Walks to remain open, but not to be charged to King’s Lynn Special Expenses as they were a benefit to the whole Borough.

The Vice Chairman, Councillor Bambridge commented that the closure of the Gaywood toilets had been mentioned at a recent meeting of the Safer Neighbourhood Action Panel.  She explained to the Panel that the Library was closed on Wednesday.  She had also heard that the cost to the Library in maintaining the toilet had increased and the Library staff had to clean the toilets.  The Vice Chairman referred to the proposal to keep Holme toilets open as they were on the Norfolk Coastal Path, she felt that the same reason should apply to keeping the Old Hunstanton toilets open.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Long reminded those present of the overall financial position of the Council.  He explained that a budget reduction programme had been submitted to Government in order to receive a three year Government funding programme.  The budget reduction programme included a raft of measures in order to achieve savings.  He explained that all the ‘quick wins’ had already been made and now it was time for the difficult decisions.  He asked that, if the Panel were to recommend that facilities remain open, they needed to determine where alternative savings could be achieved in order to fund the continued opening of public toilets. 

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community, Councillor Lawrence, reiterated the comments regarding the financial position of the Council.  He thanked the Informal Working Group and the Environment and Community Panel for their recommendations and acknowledged the concerns raised by Members of the Panel.  He explained that trials had been carried out where appropriate, for example the Ferry Street toilets had been closed on a trial basis, but it was now proposed that they be reopened.  Councillor Lawrence referred to the costs that would be involved in demolishing and rebuilding the Gaywood toilets and asked the Panel to consider how it would be funded.

The Panel was informed that the recommendations from the Panel would be included in a future report to the Cabinet.

Councillor Mrs Collop suggested that to offset some of the cost of the Gaywood toilets, one of the sets in the Walks could be closed.

Councillor Mrs Wilkinson commented that the Gaywood Library toilets were the staff facilities and she did not feel that it was fair on the staff that the toilets were opened up for public use.

Councillor Smith asked that consideration be given to a public works loan which could be used to fund the demolition and rebuilding of the Gaywood toilets and then charged to Special Expenses.  The Leader, Councillor Long stated that this could result in a large increase in Special Expenses, which in turn could trigger a Referendum because of the increase in Council Tax.

RESOLVED: That the Environment and Community Panel make the following recommendations to Cabinet:

1.     Public Conveniences located in or close to borough car parks, transport hubs or resort/tourism locations, to remain open and be maintained as per current arrangements.

2.     Ferry Street, King’s Lynn toilets to revert back to seven day opening, due to being located adjacent to car parks.

3.     One set of the Walks Toilets to be closed and officers to provide detail to Cabinet on the cost savings to be achieved depending on which set was closed. 

4.     The savings achieved from closing one set of toilets at the Walks to be used to keep the Gaywood public toilets open.

5.     The set of toilets at the Walks which are to remain open to be included as a partial charge to King’s Lynn Special expenses and a partial charge to the Borough.

6.     Wales Court, Downham Market transfer to the Town Council once refurbished to a traditional standard.

7.     Memorial Field, Downham Market include as a charge to special expenses.

8.     Howdale, Downham Market complete closure with a view to demolition.

9.     Heacham Village, transfer to Heacham Sports and Social Club was supported only if the facilities would remain open to the public.

10.  Old Hunstanton, toilets to remain open for the next twelve months whilst possible funding options were explored.

11.  Holme to remain open and maintained as per current arrangements, due to facilities being located close to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve and the gateway to the AONB along with being on the North Norfolk Coast Path and at the end of Peddars Way.