Agenda item

To formally report the receipt of a petition submitted requesting the reinstatement of toilets on Middle Promenade, below Connaught Gardens East, Clacton-on-Sea.

RESOLVED that Cabinet notes the petition, thanks the petitioner but that no action be taken at this present time to comply with the request as it is not possible to commit the Council to the construction of new public toilet facilities. However, Cabinet supports the suggestion that a review of this request could be carried out at a future juncture once the approach to the Council’s financial position can be brought into a clearer focus.

Cabinet was reminded that an e-petition had been submitted by Colin Underwood, as lead petitioner, on 18 November 2022. That petition had been signed by 41 persons and stated:-

“We the undersigned petition the council to re-instate public toilets in the vicinity of the demolished toilets on the middle promenade below Connaught Gardens East”.

Asset management (including the provision of public conveniences) was an executive function and therefore the Cabinet was the appropriate body to consider this matter.

In accordance with the Council’s adopted Scheme for Dealing with Petitions the receipt of this Petition had been reported, for Members’ information, to the meeting of the Full Council held on 24 January 2023. This matter had now been investigated and a report prepared and presented to the Cabinet on the basis that the Petition contained between 30 and 500 signatures.

Having discussed the petition it would be for Cabinet to decide what action, if any, would be taken.

Cabinet was made aware of the Assistant Director (Building and Public Realm)’s assessment and advice as follows:-

“The former public conveniences at this location were closed and demolished around twenty years ago in the light of structural issues and low usage. The East Clacton and Holland-on-Sea seafront remains served by five public conveniences. Around 700m to the West of the proposed location Public Conveniences opposite St Albans Road and around 500m to the East of the location Public Conveniences at Lyndhurst Road remain operational.

The success of the Holland-on-Sea beach recharging has led to increased visitor numbers in the area. And there is a case for increased provision of facilities to match that.

On 4 November 2022 Cabinet considered a report outlining the Council’s financial outlook including a number of housing and property investment requirements that could not be funded. It is likely that looking forward it will be increasingly necessary to practice asset management in order to deliver property and other obligations and aspirations.

The construction of a significant new public convenience on a shoreline site is likely to be substantially costly and may be hard to prioritise against other investment needs in the prevailing financial landscape.

The Council’s Public Conveniences Strategy was adopted in 2017 with a direction of reducing the number of conveniences in order to focus resources on the most necessary locations. The strategy does not envisage the creation of new public conveniences in Holland on Sea It would be most appropriate to consider any proposals for increased or reprioritised facilities within the context of a review of that strategy.”

Cabinet also had before it the following comment submitted by the Portfolio Holder:-

“Although I note, and welcome, the increased visitor usage of the excellent new beaches at Holland on Sea. The Council is in an increasingly worrying financial position and a desire to increase facilities and services, as desirable as that is, cannot sit comfortably among the tough choices that lie ahead.

Reconsidering lavatory provision throughout the towns and coast of the District can only fairly be achieved within the context of an overall review of the strategy. Such a strategy review can take account of the developing financial issues that we face and should follow consideration and resolution of those issues.

I would like to thank the petitioners for their views and consideration, and I acknowledge the increased visitor numbers in the area but believe that we cannot, at present, commit the organisation to the construction of new facilities. I believe that a review of this and other strategies should be carried out at a future juncture once the approach to the Council’s financial position can be brought into clear focus.”

The lead petitioner, Colin Underwood, attended the meeting and presented the petition to Cabinet on behalf of the petitioners.

Having duly considered the Petition together with the information provided in the report:-

It was moved by Councillor Talbot, seconded by Councillor Porter and:-

RESOLVED that Cabinet notes the petition, thanks the petitioner but that no action be taken at this present time to comply with the request as it is not possible to commit the Council to the construction of new public toilet facilities. However, Cabinet supports the suggestion that a review of this request could be carried out at a future juncture once the approach to the Council’s financial position can be brought into a clearer focus.