To consider approval of an addition to the Capital Programme to fund the installation of 7 new changing places toilets.

1. That the Government Grant of £300k to support the installation of 7 new changing places toilets be accepted;

2. That an addition of £300k to the Capital programme, funded from the Government Grant be approved.

A report was presented to consider acceptance of a government grant of £300k to support the introduction of 7 new Changing Places Toilets within the District.  Each toilet costed around £75k to install therefore the total cost collectively would be approximately £525k.  Five of the seven facilities were externally managed and those organisations had agreed to match fund the costs.  The remaining two were ELDC assets and the match funding was provided for within the Towns Funds grant support.

For a relatively small proportion of match funding, the installation of changing places toilets had the potential to change the lives of many disabled individuals across East Lindsey and that of visitors to the area, and as such was a positive step for the Council.  Installing them within key attraction sites, identified at paragraph 2.2 to the report, would allow the district to become an end destination for potential visitors and to improve the attraction of the area as a place to visit.  It was noted that £300,000 was the maximum that could be received from the Government funding and officers were congratulated on their work.

Councillor Grist as Portfolio Holder for Market Towns and the Rural Economy was supportive of the recommendations.  Councillor Grist asked for details of how the installations would be policed.  It was noted that 5 of the services were externally managed, and security would be part of that service, those managed internally were sited in existing buildings and all of the facilities would be radar key controlled. 

The Portfolio Holder for Planning was supportive and applauded the work and funding achieved as a transformational improvement to the options for severely disabled people to visit the area with dignity. 

Following which it was

RESOLVED

1. That the Government Grant of £300k to support the installation of 7 new changing places toilets be accepted;

2. That an addition of £300k to the Capital programme, funded from the Government Grant be approved.

Reasons:

Changing Places toilets are larger and more accessible for people who cannot use standard accessible toilets, with equipment such as hoists, curtains, adult sized changing benches, and space for carers. Increasing the provision of these toilets is part of a £30m national government disability strategy to allow more physically impaired individuals to undertake more recreational activities with dignity, confidence, and freedom.

Other options:

The councils could decide not to accept all or part of the grant and not provide these enhanced facilities. This would though prevent the Council from improving the quality of lives for all of its residents and up to 1 million people in the country who rely on such facilities in order to enjoy the same opportunities as everyone else.