URL: https://meetings.westoxon.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=450

Decision Maker: Executive

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: The purpose of the review is to provide a balance between continued provision of good quality facilities and reducing the financial burden on the Council.

Content: The purpose of the review is to provide a balance between continued provision of good quality facilities and reducing the financial burden on the Council. Councillor Andy Graham advised the public that if items 15, 16 and 17 required the Executive to discuss the exempt annexes to the report that there would be a requirement to exclude the press and public from the meeting.   Councillor Lidia Arciszewska, Executive Member for Environment, introduced the item, the purpose of which was to consider current provision of public conveniences in each location, costs, income and building condition. The aim was to provide a balance between the continued provision of good quality public toilet facilities, protect essential facilities into the future and to reduce the financial burden on the Council.   In her presentation Councillor Arciszewska made the following points:   The Council managed thirteen public conveniences across the district, which had a cost of £270,000. Officers had worked to establish the patterns of use of the facilities and as a result sought to establish if the maintenance and provision of the facilities was money well spent. An asset assessment exercise had been to establish the state of repair of the facilities. The result of the work so far was that the conveniences had been placed into categories and the Council now sought to investigate how these should be managed into the future. The Council wished to engage with Town and Parish Councils in nine localities to establish if there was an appetite for them to take the facilities over.     Other Members in attendance, not part of the executive stated;   There was a need for Town and Parish Councils to understand what the consequences of refusing to take on the facilities would be. In response Councillor Graham suggested that the detail of this would be part of the discussion with Town and Parish Councils and that any decisions would be the subject of a further report and scrutiny.   Queried if there was a distinction made between disabled and non-disabled facilities. Councillor Graham advised that Officers would be asked to consider this.   Councillor Enright drew the meetings attention to the consideration given in the report by Officers to the locations that had alternative facilities, such as The Leys in Witney.   Councillor David Melvin asked the Executive Members to confirm that facilities at Kilkenny Country Park would remain open. This was confirmed by the Executive Member.    Councillor Arciszewska proposed accepting the recommendations of the report.   Councillor Graham seconded the proposal and noted that there would be a further detailed report but that this decision was timely with respect to LGR in order to invest before such a transition.   This was voted on and approved unanimously.   RESOLVED: That the Executive: Agree to work with Town and Parish Councils and the Public Convenience Task and Finish Group to explore the options in regards to transferring these assets where possible, either on long leases or freehold, as detailed in the report. Delegate authority for the terms of any disposals arising from recommendation 1 to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance. Agree that, where transfer cannot be achieved, to retain facilities at Langdale Gate in Witney, Guildenford and High Street in Burford, Bampton Town Hall, New Street in Chipping Norton, Hensington Road in Woodstock and Kilkenny Country Park, and to bring forward a further report regarding the repairs and improvements required to ensure good quality facilities are provided. Agree, where transfer cannot be achieved, to terminate leases at the Town Hall in Chipping Norton and Charlbury, noting the lease implications set out in Annex D to the report. Agree, where transfer cannot be achieved, to close facilities at The Leys, Witney, Browns Lane, Woodstock, Back Lane, Eynsham, Black Bourton Road in Carterton which are in the Council’s ownership and consider options such as conversion, lease or sale of the buildings.

Date of Decision: September 10, 2025