Agenda item

The Service Lead StreetScene confirmed that the detail was in the report and highlighted the two elements that were to be debated - reinstating the seasonal resource of agency staff and the need to open more toilets for longer hours with improved facilities. He stated there had been no specific Government guidance about opening public toilets in order to be COVID-19 compliant. The rules/guidance in the report were based on the extensive Covid-19 secure guidance issued by the government related to how businesses should re-open safely (including shops with facilitates for customers such as toilets and changing rooms), as well as guidelines for operators of outdoor facilities. All the guidance mentions improved cleaning frequency and hygiene standards, better signage, frequency of hand washing and cleaning after every use (for changing rooms). As soon as guidance concerning public toilets became available the present position would be reviewed. He spoke of the need to provide this important service and that it was linked directly to EDDC’s economic recovery and tourist industry.

The Portfolio Holder for Coast, Country and Environment said at the start of the COVID-19 emergency all the district’s public conveniences were locked to comply with government emergency measures. When the government relaxed the regulations for people to travel and to use beaches, EDDC reacted swiftly to open 10 of its public conveniences under strict government guidance and risk assessments. That was at Easter and things had moved on since then with the need to consider opening more toilets and over a longer period of time with limited funding. He suggested Town and Parish councils help get the message across for the public to take their litter home to relieve the pressure on StreetScene operatives.

Discussions included the following:

·       The need to ensure safety to StreetScene operatives when dealing with heavier bins due to increased usage

·       8pm was too early to lock the toilets up for the day

·       To ensure public health there must be more toilets available

·       The need to support and boost town centres and businesses, tourism was vital for the area

·       Ensure we give the service East Devon residents expect from us

·       The need to provide more toilets as we approach the summer months

·       This was a difficult decision as we cannot open all the toilets due to financial constraints stemming from the COVID-19 situation

·       This would give the local economy the chance to bounce back and for East Devon to recover

·       If businesses don't survive over the next six months they would be in an even worse situation than they were now.

·       The need to look seriously in opening as many of the proposed toilets as we can to get the tourists back

·       Sadly there was a minority that did not all share the same level of public decency respect for public facilities and restraint, with hand sanitizers as an example, being stolen or vandalised at a cost to the council

·       The virus was still contagious, there was an underlying public health issue to keep people safe

·       Ward members should lobby their MP’s for more government funding for public toilets

·       Approach Town and Parish Councils who may wish to contribute to these extra costs

·       It was difficult to keep to social distancing in some older toilet blocks

·       The need for appropriate signage on closed toilets to make clear where the nearest open facilities were

·       Advertise where open toilets were at the point of entry to towns and resorts

·       Public toilets were not a mandatory provision by the council, we rely on tourist but local people pay the precepts in their council tax

·       Consider bringing back charges to use public toilets or seek sponsorship from businesses who benefit from having them

·       4 July 2020 certain tourism facilities officially reopen, if pubs and cafes cannot open this would affect the pressure on public toilet facilities.

·       There was a need to re-open all toilets now and also to review their provision and investment in their standards

·       Costings should be provided on an option ‘D i’ for re-opening all toilets until 8pm in the summer, but only 5pm in the winter. Costs to be considered in the future

·       That this subject and the number of toilets open be kept under constant review.

The Chairman, Portfolio Holder for Coast, Country and Environment and other members wished to thank and relay their gratitude to Andrew Hancock and his great team of staff and officers for keeping operations rolling out in this most challenging of times and speaking on behalf of all the district’s residents.

RESOLVED that Cabinet;

1.     Note the use of the StreetScene agency budget of £62k to enable StreetScene Operations to meet statutory responsibilities in relation to street cleansing and maintain an Outstanding Environment.

2.     Agree to option Ci (which requires an additional budget of £76,962 for 9 months until March 2021) as recommended in the report for opening public toilets further and delegate authority to the Portfolio Holder Coast, Country and Environment to progress the virement request in accordance with Financial Regulations and if not agreed to recommend to Council to approve the additional budget.

3.     Approve an extensive communications effort to explain why this restricted opening and over budget resource is required and approach the Town & Parish Council’s benefitting, seeking a contribution to the costs.

4.     Approve a long term review of public toilet stock taking account of the ‘new normal’, requiring consideration of financial sustainability and Covid-19 secure building adaptations and investment within the stock with a report to be brought back to Cabinet for consideration.

5.     Seek to arrange a Zoom meeting with the district’s three MPs, with a view to lobbying government for additional funds to support the additional spend being incurred on public toilets.

REASON:

Using the agency resource would allow EDDC to keep beaches, parks and streets clean in the face of increased demand, restoring staffing to normal levels. Due to Covid-19 secure guidelines, a greater degree of cleaning was required of public toilets. Opening any more than 10 would require more budget and staff resource. Cabinet had to decide on what level was appropriate. With the new normal of Covid-19 and the pressure on public finances, there was a need to review what level of provision was sustainable and what building adaptations/refurbishments may be required, hence a full review being needed.