Issue - meetings

Community Toilet Scheme Update

Meeting: 20/03/2018 - Communities, Housing and Environment Committee (Item 143)

143 Community Toilet Scheme Update pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of Mr John Edwards, Street Scene Operational Manager, which gave an update on the Community Toilet Scheme which enabled residents and visitors to Maidstone the use of private toilet facilities which had been provided by a number of local businesses.

 

Mr Edwards advised that there were now a total of 9 businesses or facilities signed up to the scheme.  He emphasised that there had been improved signage of the locations, especially down by the riverside.  In addition, information was provided on the Council’s website and public facing applications.

In response to questions from Members, the Officer advised that:-

 

·  Should the Council provide funding to a privately owned business to accommodate a changing places area, then that establishment would be tied into a 3 to 4 year membership of the Scheme.

  • The reason for the reduction in numbers of participants was that the facilities were not considered up to standard and therefore taken off the list.

  • It would not make any difference to the number of participants to the scheme if more money was offered.

  • If the Council were to have pods installed, following experiences of other Councils, these are open to vandalism and are a target to be robbed.

  • That copies of the Monitoring Check Sheets of the current participants would be sent through to Members by email.

That CIL contributions may be able to be used for public toilet facilities.  However, the Business Rates Retention Scheme only allows for investment opportunities that would generate additional income.
The following observations were made by Members:-

?  That there should be public toilet facilities in the town for all to use.

?  That Members had previously spoke to the landlord of the Market Buildings with a view to re-opening the toilet facilities in that location but nothing had come of it.

?  That many of the towns in Kent have a changing places facility in their towns and it was embarrassing that the County Town of Kent does not and we should be working with our partners to take it forward.

?  Perhaps One Maidstone could do more to encourage establishments within the town centre to take up membership of the scheme.

?  That if there was a flavour for the Council to have public toilets in the town centre then this should be looked at and put into the budget for next year.

RESOLVED:  That Officers come back to the Committee with a set of properly costed proposals (to include options for grant funding, public funding and/or partnership funding) for a 21st century facility in the town centre.

Voting:  Unanimous

·