The Service Improvement & Project Manager gave a presentation on the Public Toilets facilities consultation.

He said that Swale Borough Council (SBC) currently operated 16 public toilet facilities across the borough and the Council were considering options which would help to reach a balanced budget position. The options included delivering all services in-house, outsourcing, closing all toilets, charging for use of SBC public toilet facilities, transferring toilet facilities to Town or Parish Councils and some other appropriate local organisations, or the community toilet scheme model.

SBC proposed a mix of the following options:

·       Carrying out formal negotiations to transfer seven public toilet facilities to town and parish councils, or other appropriate local organisations;

·       closure of three public toilets;

·       introducing a community toilet scheme in areas affected by the closures; and

·       continue to operate the remaining six toilets facilities outsourced.

At this stage SBC would like to hear the views of Swale residents, visitors, community groups and businesses and were carrying out a public consultation which closed on Friday 3 October 2025. The information gathered would be carefully considered by councillors before any final decisions were made. SBC were committed to ensuring that the voices of local communities were heard and reflected in the Council’s decision-making.

The following comments were raised:

·       Had disability charities been consulted regarding people with accessibility problems accessing facilities as part of the community toilet scheme?;

·       the transfer of toilet facilities to town and parish councils was a costly process, would this option cost more in the long run?; and

·       if the proposal to close facilities was agreed, some people might not feel confident leaving their homes.

The Service Improvement & Project Manager responded and said that various groups had been contacted to find out about accessibility issues and their comments would be taken into account by councillors when making a decision. As part of the community toilet scheme, businesses would be asked for information on the accessibility of their toilet facilities. Some aspects of public toilet facilities were best run by town and parish councils. SBC would consider individual cases and transfers would be carried out in line with the SBC Asset Transfer Policy. It was difficult to comment on costs at this stage.