Agenda item

The Provision of Public Conveniences

To seek approval to dispose of public conveniences.

Decision:

 

It was proposed by Councillor Keeling and seconded by Councillor Williams, and

 

RESOLVED

 

The Council to:

 

1.     Ensure the continued provision of public conveniences until April 2027.

2.     With immediate effect start consultation with all Towns/Parishes to transfer toilets by April 2027 to enable continued provision of facilities and avoid cessation of services. The Head of Assets in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Assets and Environmental Services to transfer facilities as agreed with town and parish councils.

3.     Where towns and parishes are unable to fund /resource provision of public conveniences the Head of Assets will consult with other interested parties to transfer facilities on the proviso that they continue to be provided as public conveniences for the foreseeable future.

4.     Ensure resources are devoted to achieving agreement with Towns/Parishes at the earliest opportunity to enable precepts to be increased if necessary.

 

 

In accordance with section 4.13.5 of the Constitution (Recorded Vote), the Members voting for, against or abstaining from voting is as follows:

 

Those voting FOR: Councillors Bullivant, Buscombe, Cox, Farrand-Rogers, Foden, Goodman-Bradbury, Hall, Hayes, Hook, Jackman, James, Keeling, Major, Morgan, Nutley, Nuttall, Palethorpe, C Parker, Parrott, Peart, Rollason, Smith, Swain, G Taylor, Thorne, Williams and Wrigley.

 

Those voting AGAINST: Councillors Mullone and P Parker.

 

ABSTENTIONS: Councillors Atkins, Clarance, Daws, Gearon, Horner, MacGregor, Rogers, Ryan, Steemson, J Taylor and Webster.

Minutes:

The Council considered the report on the provision of public conveniences across the District. The report noted that public conveniences are a discretionary service provided by some local authorities. At the time of the report, the Council provided 22 public conveniences, and a number of Town and Parish Councils provided their own.

 

The Council’s Modern 25 Programme identified that the Council’s spend on public conveniences was greater than comparable authorities and recommended a review of provision to ascertain if current levels are providing best value and a target ongoing annual saving of £250,000 from the service.  

 

The report noted that the Council on Tuesday 29th October 2024 (Minute 71) gave approval for a public consultation to review all potential options for the provision of public toilets. The public consultation took place from 12th November to 23rd December 2024, where 5,577 responses were received. Summaries of the responses were included within the appendices in the agenda and reports pack.

 

The report highlighted a facility review of the 22 sites based on a number of criterion (usage, costs and strategic importance) and the facilities were then scored based on this criterion.

 

An All-Member Briefing was held on Wednesday 16th July 2025 in advance of the meeting, and the presentation slides were included within the agenda and reports pack.

 

The Leader spoke at the start of the debate on the Council’s financial position, the Modern 25 programme, discussions with Town and Parish Councils, the public consultation and thanked those who signed petitions in advance of the meeting.

 

It was proposed by the Leader and seconded by Councillor Williams that the Council:

 

1.     Ensure the continued provision of public conveniences until April 2027.

2.     With immediate effect start consultation with the ten Towns/Parishes to transfer toilets by April 2027 to enable continued provision of facilities and avoid cessation of services. The Head of Assets in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Assets and Environmental Services to transfer facilities as agreed with town and parish councils.

3.     Where towns and parishes are unable to fund /resource provision of public conveniences the Head of Assets will consult with other interested parties to transfer facilities on the proviso that they continue to be provided as public conveniences for the foreseeable future.

4.     Ensure resources are devoted to achieving agreement with Towns/Parishes at the earliest opportunity to enable precepts to be increased if necessary.

 

The Leader proposed a recorded vote on the substantive motion, and this was duly supported by more than five Members of the Council.

 

As part of the debate, Councillors raised the following points for and against the substantive motion:

·       The negatively impacted groups as highlighted in the Equality Impact Assessment, specifically the Gypsy and Traveller communities, Women and Girls, the Elderly and Disabled residents.

·       The impact on Town and Parish Council precepts to cover the additional funding needed to provide public conveniences.

·       The impact of the proposals on rural communities. 

·       Other opportunities to generate revenue from other Council properties and assets or realise other savings including special responsibility allowances and other Council projects.

·       The detail contained within any transfer agreements to Town and Parish Councils relating to freehold or leasehold arrangements and any covenants applied to the sites.

·       The financial position of the Council and future unitary local authorities, the need to safeguard public convenience provision in light of future local government re-organisation, working with partners and communities.

·       Access to capital funding for communities, town and parishes.

·       Other proposals to safeguard the provision of public toilets including pay to pee facilities or using developer contributions.

 

(Councillor Wrigley declared an interest as the Member of Parliament for Newton Abbot)

 

Officers responded to the points raised in relation to pay to pee proposals.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 12:12 for a short period.

 

Following the resumption of the meeting, an amendment was proposed by Councillor P Parker and seconded by Councillor MacGregor:

 

“The Council to investigate in detail the option for pay to pee services, where assets are used to cover the cost of providing new custom-built facilities through disposal and other funding sources and report back to the next Full Council in October 2025.”

 

Councillors Keeling, Clarance and MacGregor spoke on the amendment proposed by Councillor P Parker.

 

Councillor J Taylor proposed a recorded vote on the amendment, and this was duly supported by more than five Members of the Council.

 

Councillor P Parker and Councillor MacGregor agreed to amend the wording of the amendment to report back to the next Full Council in February 2026.

 

The amendment put to the vote was as follows:

 

“The Council resolves to investigate in detail the option for pay to pee services, where assets are used to cover the cost of providing new custom-built facilities through disposal and other funding sources and report back to the next Full Council in February 2026.”

 

In accordance with section 4.13.5 of the Constitution (Recorded Vote), the Members voting for, against or abstaining from voting is as follows:

 

Those voting FOR: Councillors Clarance, Cox, Daws, Gearon, Horner, MacGregor, Mullone, P Parker, Ryan, J Taylor.

 

Those voting AGAINST: Councillors Bullivant, Buscombe, Farrand-Rogers, Foden, Goodman-Bradbury, Hall, Hayes, Hook, Jackman, James, Keeling, Major, Morgan, Nutley, Nuttall, Palethorpe, C Parker, Parrott, Peart, Rollason, Rogers, Smith, Swain, G Taylor, Thorne, Williams and Wrigley.

 

ABSTENTIONS: Councillors Atkins, Steemson and Webster.

 

The amendment was declared as LOST.

 

The debate continued and Councillors raised the following points for and against the substantive motion:

  • The scoring system and criterion used within the report.
  • Further points about the Equality Impact Assessment, the Council’s revenue budget and financial position, local government re-organisation and working with Town and Parish Councils.
  • Reference to the individual public convenience sites in Ashburton, Bovey Tracey, Buckfastleigh, Newton Abbot, Starcross and Widecombe-in-the-Moor.
  • Subsidising Town and Parish Councils when transferring them from the Council’s reserves.
  • Clarification on the substantive motion proposed by the Leader that all public conveniences are in scope as part of the recommendation.

 

The Leader and officers responded orally to the comments made.

 

An amendment was proposed by Councillor J Taylor and seconded by Councillor Daws:

 

“All Toilets will under the ownership of Teignbridge District Council, maintained as public toilets, except those which town and parish councils agree to transfer to their ownership”.

 

Councillor J Taylor spoke to the amendment and officers responded orally to the comments made.

 

Councillor J Taylor proposed a recorded vote on the amendment, and this was duly supported by more than five Members of the Council. The amendment was then put to the vote.

 

In accordance with section 4.13.5 of the Constitution (Recorded Vote), the Members voting for, against or abstaining from voting is as follows:

 

Those voting FOR: Councillors Clarance, Daws, Gearon, Horner, James, MacGregor, Mullone, P Parker, Rogers, Ryan and J Taylor

 

Those voting AGAINST: Councillors Bullivant, Buscombe, Farrand-Rogers, Goodman-Bradbury, Hall, Hayes, Hook, Jackman, Keeling, Major, Morgan, Nutley, Nuttall, Palethorpe, C Parker, Parrott, Peart, Rollason, Smith, Swain, G Taylor, Thorne, Williams and Wrigley.

 

ABSTENTIONS: Councillors Atkins, Cox, Foden, Steemson and Webster.

 

The amendment was declared as LOST.

 

The Leader and Councillor Williams agreed to amend the second recommendation of the substantive motion to read “With immediate effect start consultation with all Towns/Parishes…”

 

The vote was then taken on the substantive motion proposed by the Leader which now read as follows:

 

The Council RESOLVES to:

 

1.     Ensure the continued provision of public conveniences until April 2027.

2.     With immediate effect start consultation with all Towns/Parishes to transfer toilets by April 2027 to enable continued provision of facilities and avoid cessation of services. The Head of Assets in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Assets and Environmental Services to transfer facilities as agreed with town and parish councils.

3.     Where towns and parishes are unable to fund /resource provision of public conveniences the Head of Assets will consult with other interested parties to transfer facilities on the proviso that they continue to be provided as public conveniences for the foreseeable future.

4.     Ensure resources are devoted to achieving agreement with Towns/Parishes at the earliest opportunity to enable precepts to be increased if necessary.

 

In accordance with section 4.13.5 of the Constitution (Recorded Vote), the Members voting for, against or abstaining from voting is as follows:

 

Those voting FOR: Councillors Bullivant, Buscombe, Cox, Farrand-Rogers, Foden, Goodman-Bradbury, Hall, Hayes, Hook, Jackman, James, Keeling, Major, Morgan, Nutley, Nuttall, Palethorpe, C Parker, Parrott, Peart, Rollason, Smith, Swain, G Taylor, Thorne, Williams and Wrigley.

 

Those voting AGAINST: Councillors Mullone and P Parker.

 

ABSTENTIONS: Councillors Atkins, Clarance, Daws, Gearon, Horner, MacGregor, Rogers, Ryan, Steemson, J Taylor and Webster.

 

The substantive motion was declared as CARRIED.

 

The meeting was adjourned for a short break.

 

 

Supporting documents: