Back on Jan 11th, the District Council Cabinet discussed what to do about public toilets. It’s an important subject, but it’s been a bit tricky to tell you what happened, even though a couple of opposition councillors – Chris Black and Michael Hoy – went along to the meeting.
The discussion about toilets was taken in ‘private and confidential” , so we can’t tell you what happened during the meeting – only what the minutes say. And you can download the minutes here. Regarding the public toilets , the minutes state:
Resolved
That the Public Toilet Strategy and the recommendations contained under section 8 therein, as appended to the exempt report of the Head of Environmental Services, be adopted. (HES)
Which doesn’t tell you very much because ‘exempt’ reports are confidential reports, so we can’t tell you what the Public Toilet Strategy is.
Thankfully the information has now been released to the Echo who explain it as follows:
CLOSURE-THREATENED public toilets in the Rochford district will remain open after all.
Five loos were facing the axe following budget cuts, but Rochford district councillors have had a change of heart and will now keep them open.
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The decision affects toilet blocks in Hullbridge, Hockley, Great Wakering, Rayleigh and Rochford. If the closures had gone ahead, the only Rochford Council toilet remaining would have been in Hockley Woods.
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Mike Steptoe, councillor responsible for the environment, said: ?It?s is definitely not on the cards. We are now going to look at how we can maintain and bring them up to date.
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?Through a good bit of budgeting, we have managed to find some savings in other areas.?
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However, the reprieve may yet prove only to be partial, as they are still likely to close on Sundays and opening hours may also be reduced on other days…..
Leaving aside any ‘good bit of budgeting’, letting any of the toilets close would have started a really big political storm…