Issue - meetings

Members noted the report.

The meeting was advised that all public toilets across Thanet (including the Clocktower toilets) were being reviewed currently. A working group of officers and Members has been established and work has commenced, looking at each individual toilet, in order to determine the work required to improve it.

This would include ascertaining if refurbishment or complete rebuilding would be required, if each toilet was fit for purpose in its current location, problems associated with each individual site including crime and anti social behaviour, footfall, and the cost of any proposed works to each individual site.

Councillor Ashbee proposed, Councillor Game seconded and Cabinet is asked to agree the following:

1.  That the update detailed in this report is provided as a response to the petition. The Margate Clocktower public toilets will not be re-opened for the remainder of the season.

2.  That further updates on the review of public toilets be provided through the appropriate channels at a later date to be agreed with the working group.

Councillor Yates presented a petition regarding the Margate Clock Tower Toilets.  Members noted that the following petition contained 386 valid signatures:

“We the undersigned demand that Thanet District Council immediately rescinds its decision to close the much needed Margate Clocktower toilets. The three million pounds allocated to refurbish council offices should be used to protect essential local and tourist services. We need to safeguard the services that boost our flourishing tourism economy. This decision is short-sighted and detrimental.”

In accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme, the petition was referred to Cabinet without debate for report back to the Council within three ordinary meetings.