Item SSE 19/26 referred from Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board minutes of 30 October 2019
Consideration of recommendations to the Cabinet from the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board of 30 October 2019.
The Cabinet resolved that:
The recommendations of the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board be approved as follows:
(1) the transfer of the public conveniences to the relevant Parish/Town Council be progressed in liaison with the Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board;
(2) Hadlow Parish Council be invited to reconsider its decision to decline the transfer in light of the financial arrangements accepted by other Parish/Town Councils. Hadlow Parish Council be advised that if it remains unwilling to accept the transfer of the public convenience in the village, the facility will be closed and proposals brought forward for the future use/disposal of the site.
(3) a programme of improvements to the public conveniences that are to be retained or transferred be implemented;
(4) the transfer arrangements with Parish/Town Councils commence on 1 April 2021, and the current cleansing contract be extended for a period of 13 months;
(5) at the appropriate time during 2021/22, a consultation be undertaken with a view to updating the Special Expenses Policy to reflect the new arrangements for the provision of public conveniences as a concurrent function;
(6) the Parish/Town Councils’ legal fees associated with the transfer be met by the Borough Council and, alongside this, the principle of supporting the Parish/Town Councils financially with a one-off payment be considered by Members;
(7) the Council seeks quotations for cleansing those public conveniences being retained in Tonbridge and at ‘strategic sites’; and
(8) the anticipated cost saving from the new arrangements be reflected in the Council’s revenue estimates from April 2022.