Agenda item

Interim progress update presentation by Director Infrastructure & Environment.  (Copy to follow.)

4.1     There had been circulated copies of a presentation by John Curry, Director Infrastructure & Environment, the purpose of which was to inform Members of the assessment of public toilet provision in the Scottish Borders, and results from the consultation exercise.  There were currently 27 public toilets open for use and 14 which had remained closed following the pandemic and were not to reopen.  A summary of key principles was provided and included: a need to enhance the condition of the operational facilities for which surveys and capital investment was required; a phased approach to upgrading payment operated locking facilities and contactless payment facilities; maintained access for RADAR users; an appropriate cleaning and inspection regime; and SBC to maintain the operational estate and provide one facility per each major existing settlement.  The results of a mapping exercise was shared with Members which showed those facilities open, closed, disabled provision and areas where provision was needed.  Stow was highlighted as lacking provision.  A summary table of facility condition and suitability was provided with grading as follows: A (good); B (satisfactory); C (poor) and D (bad).  A condition survey in November 2023 of all SBC facilities resulted in 3 graded as A, 22 graded as B and 1 graded as C. 

4.2     On the matter of payment operating locking facilities, SBC charged for access to 17 of the 27 sites.  Any income generated was offset by the increasing burden of repairs and operating costs and several considerations were highlighted: frequent breakdown of coin collection units; delayed opening times; expensive repairs to locking mechanism and to doors vandalised to gain entry (6 this year to date at £2k per call out); and multiple instances of locks failing while toilet was occupied.  There had been a trial of removing charges from six sites in Melrose, Coldingham, Kelso (Shedden Park & Horsemarket), Innerleithen and Duns.  There had been no direct increase in vandalism levels or complaints.  Two options were presented to Members: Option 1 – to invest in estate wide contactless collection; and Option 2 – to remove charging from most facilities.  It was highlighted that 50% of the revenue from toilets was spent on collecting that income. Once the trial had concluded, its findings were to be brought back to Council in May 2024.  In terms of identifying opportunities, gaps and key priorities for the service, SBC officers were developing in-house mapping and were to engage in early 2024 with Community Planning Partners, Live Borders and Third and private sector partners.   Officers had also worked with community groups interested in community-led operations and a summary of these was shared with Members.  A further framework model – the Comfort Scheme – was being explored by which a grant was to be awarded to meet operational costs incurred by an organisation or company interested in participation.  Highland Council already had a comprehensive Comfort Scheme in place.  A summary of cleaning standards, presentation and complaints (of which there were 3 in 2023) was provided.  Regarding disposals, the lease on St Mary’s Loch facilities was in the process of termination, a community asset transfer process had begun on School Brae, Peebles and several other enquiries had been received for facilities in Galashiels and Hawick.

4.3     There followed a discussion on matters arising from the presentation.  With regards to provision in Burnmouth, a containerised solution was under consideration, at a cost of around £35k for two toilets, for which there was no provision in the current capital and revenue allocations.  Alternative funding sources were to be investigated.  Regarding the lack of provision in Stow, a comfort scheme was the preferred route with enquiries to begin in early 2024 along with the use of the football pavilion and the railway station.  There was acknowledgement that consistency was required with regards to the opening of disabled facilities that had been earmarked for closure.  There was a suggestion that signage be installed in toilets with an SBC contact number in the event of a person being locked in, with the caveat that someone would be available to answer the call.  Incorrect signage in Newtown St Boswells was highlighted, along with a request that members of the public be redirected to HQ toilet facilities.

DECISION

NOTED the presentation.