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Agenda item

Petition: Retain the public toilets in the High Street/Market Square, Stow-on-the-Wold

Purpose

For Council to consider a petition submitted under the Local Petition Scheme (Part F of the Constitution).

 

Recommendations

That Council resolves to either:

1.    Make recommendations to Cabinet as the decision-maker for the request to be considered.

2.    Refer the petition to Overview and Scrutiny Committee for review.

3.    Note the petition and take no further action.

Minutes:

The purpose of this item was for Council to consider a petition submitted under the Local Petition Scheme (Part F of the Constitution).

 

The Chair invited the representative for the petition, Councillor Ben Eddolls, Chair of Stow Town Council, to present the petition. The following points were made:

 

  • Whilst there was a recognition of the financial challenges affecting the Council’s decision to close the toilets, it was highlighted how the facilities were important for tourists visiting the area. Particularly those who come by coach.
  • The area has two toilets in the Market Square and at Maugsbury Road car park and it was recognised that one of these facilities needed to be closed.
  • Stow Town Council had been in negotiations with the Council to keep these open, but the financial burden to the Town Council would not be sustainable given the funding for facilities only coming from the precept levied on homeowners.
  • The closure of the town centre facilities would have an impact on the town centre, particularly for those with accessibility needs if the facilities would close.

 

The Chair then reminded Members of the recommendations which were as on the report

 

That Council resolves to either:

1. Make recommendations to Cabinet as the decision-maker for the

request to be considered.

2. Refer the petition to Overview and Scrutiny Committee for review.

3. Note the petition and take no further action.

 

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Mike Evemy, then responded to the petition, and made the following points:

 

  • Councillor Ben Eddolls was thanked for bringing forward the petition for Council to consider.
  • A formal response was then circulated to all Members in the room which read as follows:

 

This Council notes the petition signed by 1,198 people requesting the Council to retain the public toilets in High Street/Market Square, Stow-on-the-Wold.

 

This Council resolves to refer consideration of the petition to Cabinet, as it is the relevant decision-making body, for discussion and decision at its meeting on 3 October 2024

 

  • Councillor Evemy and the Deputy Chief Executive had visited Stow on 11 September 2024 to discuss the future of the facilities, in addition to previous discussions with officers and the Town Council.
  • Residents had been in touch with the Council about their concerns if the facilities were closed.
  • Due to the financial challenges facing the Council, the Public Conveniences Review Group had looked at the operation of the non-statutory services.
  • Based on the recommendations of the Working Group, Cabinet took a decision in February 2024 to retain one facility in all of the main localities where there were multiple facilities with exception of Bourton-on-the-Water where two higher usage facilities would be retained.
  • Whilst Cabinet needed to make the determination, Councillor Evemy was minded to recommend to Cabinet to retain the Market Square toilets and close the facilities at Maugersbury Road following the representations made.

 

It was highlighted that Stow Town Council had worked hard to investigate whether they could take over the running of the toilets but had concluded that this was not possible for the Market Square toilets.

 

It was asked whether Stow Town Council or any businesses could take over the running of Maugersbury Road toilets and therefore retain both facilities. Councillor Neill as the Ward Member responded that the Town Council would need to consider any new proposal carefully to ensure they could financially support it.

 

Councillor Joe Harris formally seconded the resolution and made the following points:

 

  • It was regrettable that some of the non-statutory services that councils used to provide could no longer be provided.
  • The medium-term financial challenge meant that public conveniences had to be able to generate most of their own funding or the Council would have to see if there were any alternative delivery models.
  • For communities across the District, it was highlighted that the Council would need to have an honest discussion about the future of services like public conveniences.

 

It was highlighted that many of these non-statutory services help to provide for the important tourism economy in the Cotswolds.

 

Councillor Evemy then summed up:

 

  • The facilities in Maugersbury Road were largely the same to run in terms of costs as the facilities in the Market Square. Therefore, there was no additional budget pressure.
  • Fees and charges were being examined to see how the facilities are financed in the future.

Supporting documents:

 

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