(i)         That the petition to ‘save our beach toilets at Goodrington, set out at Appendix 2 to the submitted report be noted;  and

(ii)        that the Interim Director of Place, in consultation with the Chief Executive, offer a long term lease (30 years) to the current tenant of South Sands Beach Cafe (South Sands Café Goodrington Limited), as shown in plan EM3030 (as set out at Appendix 1 to the submitted report), which includes toilets to its customers and the general public during its opening hours. Furthermore, that public toilet provision at Goodrington North and Goodrington South will remain open for the summer season 2019.

To respond to the recommendations of the Council on 19 June 2019, arising from a petition to save the beach toilets at the south end of Goodrington Beach.

A lease of the land and buildings known as South Sands WC Block and Kiosk, Goodrington, Paignton to South Sands Café Goodrington Limited is considered to be in the best interests of the Council and will secure the long term future of a facility at the south end of Goodrington Beach.

The proposal will generate additional revenue income through an increase of rent for the additional space and will also reduce the repair and maintenance liability for the redundant building.

Alternative options were set out in the submitted report.

This decision will come into force and may be implemented on Monday, 22 July 2019 unless the call-in procedure is triggered (as set out in Standing Orders in relation to Overview and Scrutiny).

The current public toilet at South Sands, Goodrington is scheduled to close permanently in October 2019 following the summer season 2019.  The current leaseholder of the adjoining kiosk proposes to redevelop the whole site to create a new larger café/bistro which would include a toilet for customers.  The proposal set out in the submitted report will see the redundant toilets and the kiosk demolished and subject to obtaining the necessary statutory approvals re-built to create a new and modern facility, which will complement the existing provision at Goodrington. 

At the Council meeting held on 19 June 2019, Members received and debated a petition, containing 1292 signatures, to save the beach toilets at the south end of Goodrington Beach.  The Council resolved:

“that Cabinet be recommended to offer a long term lease to the current tenant of South Sands Beach Cafe including toilets to its customers and the general public during its opening hours. Furthermore, that public toilet provision at Goodrington North and Goodrington South will remain open for the summer season 2019.”

At its meeting on 9 July 2019, the Cabinet heard from Ms Catherine Fritz, member of the Goodrington Steering Group who spoke in support of the petition.

A revised officer recommendation was circulated prior to the meeting.

Councillor Long proposed and Councillor Morey seconded a motion which was agreed unanimously by the Cabinet (unanimously) as set out above.

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