Decision details

As a result of the political agreement between the Liberal Democrat and Labour Groups the following actions were agreed:

• at a meeting on 7 July, the Cabinet will consider a report in support of the objectives of a budget amendment to implement Liberal Democrat proposals on reopening Parker’s Piece and Quayside toilets, and the resourcing of council delivery of street cleaning, and public realm enforcement, which would be implemented at the earliest possible opportunity in the current financial year.

• In the interim, steps will be taken to hire additional staff on a temporary basis to increase street cleansing and public realm enforcement in the city centre during the busy summer months.

This report provides recommendations on changes to Public Toilets, Street Cleansing, Public Safety and City Centre Enforcement as set out in the Liberal Democrat 2026 budget amendment.

That Cabinet unanimously resolved to:

I.               To approve the immediate reopening of as many individual toilets at Parkers Piece as feasible following condition and compliance checks.

II.             To request officers, bring a paper to 23rd September Cabinet setting out options for the future of Parker’s Piece and Quayside toilets, including reopening and operating cost, payment options, and capital investment needed to meet any new accessibility requirements.

III.           That four temporary staff are recruited as soon as possible to provide additional street cleansing capacity at priority hotspots, including the city centre, and strengthening programmed cleansing activity across the city, to be organised into a new daily 12-7pm shift.

IV.          To agree that officers implement route optimisation and operational redesign informed by performance and REEN smart bin technology data to deliver efficiencies that can release existing cleaning capacity for priority hotspots.

V.             To agree that officers will bring a more detailed paper on longer-term staffing requirements once the additional temporary resource is in place and its impact can be assessed to feed into the budget setting process in late Autumn.

VI.          To agree to the recruitment of two additional temporary Public Realm Enforcement Officers (a permanent appointment would be made in September, which would replace one of the temporary posts) so that a team of 5 enforcement officers will be funded from July to the end of the financial year.

VII.        To agree that officers bring an evidence-based report to Cabinet in November/December setting out the impact of the additional capacity and other reforms to improve prevention and enforcement activity with advice on whether there is sufficient capacity or whether further resources are required.

VIII.      That the in-year revenue costs of these proposals are funded using the Transformation and Reinvestment Fund, anticipated to be up to £200k, and that the CFO has delegated authority to approve this.

IX.          That proposals are brought forward as part of the 2027/2028 Budget setting process so that future funding for the costs of toilet reopening, additional street cleaning and enforcement activity can be secured.