Agenda item

Questions submitted by Members under Procedure Rule No.9 will be published by way of supplement following closure of the deadline. – RECEIVED QUESTIONS NOW ATTACHED.

The Chairman advised the meeting that one question pursuant to Council Procedure Rule No.9 had been submitted to the meeting.  This had been circulated to all Members, separately to the agenda, and published on the website.

The Chairman invited, Councillor David Dobbie, Ward Member for Gainsborough East, to put his question to the Leader as follows:-

“Leader

Why was the Grant funding that was available for Local Authorities that do not have a Changing Place within their area not accessed last year? 

This fund gave priority grants to Local Authorities that did not have any such facilities within their authority?

Thank you.”

The Leader of the Council responded as follows: -

“The Department for Levelling Up Homes and Communities published the Changing Places Fund Prospectus inviting councils to submit expressions of interest for funding to create new Changing Places Toilet Facilities.  Officers assessed the expression of interest and the requirements of the fund. The fund was targeted at the repurposing of existing toilet facilities, with a view to increasing the size and provisions available. The new facilities would be expected to be larger than a disabled toilet, make provisions for equipment such as hoists, privacy screens, adult-sized changing benches, peninsula toilets and space for carers.

In order to assess how we could upgrade our current facilities we reviewed all Council owned WC facilities across the district. This included at the West Lindsey Leisure Centre and Market Rasen Leisure Centre. Unfortunately, none of our current facilities could accommodate the requirements of the Changing Places Fund. The exception to this is the West Lindsey Leisure Centre, where there is actually a Changing Places facility already available.

We then considered how we could build a Changing Places facility into the new cinema development. We discussed the options with Savoy, and unfortunately, due to the fact that the toilets and main servicing routes are contained within the stairwells, there was not the space that would be needed to create the hoist facilities and host the additional facilities needed. In addition, we did have concerns regarding accessibility during the hours when the cinema would be closed and this would have been challenging by the letter of the funding guidance.

The matter was considered by the Land Property and Growth Programme Board and it was determined that unfortunately at the time of the funding opportunity we were not in a position to develop an option that would meet the funding requirements. We have kept the idea firmly on the table and will continue to look at other options for the delivery of such a facility.”

Having sought and received permission to ask a supplementary question Councillor Dobbie made a statement regarding his understanding from campaigners about the lack of changing places in the District adequate for registration within the organisation, and the need for that to change. He encouraged greater engagement the local campaigners he had referred to in wider correspondence, given their knowledge of the issues.

The Chairman requested a supplementary question be put, as requested, or the meeting would move on, in line with procedure rules. The following supplementary was posed: -

I would like the Council to continue to try and fulfil a “Changing Place” in West Lindsey - when would that be likely to be occur in the future, thank you?”

In responding the Chairman re-iterated the Leader’s previous statement that the matter remained on the table and other options for the delivery of such a facility continued to investigated.