Decision - Notice of Motion - Prostate Cancer UK Campaign 'Boys need bins'

Notice of Motion - Prostate Cancer UK Campaign 'Boys need bins'

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Decision:

To take no further action in light of the existing service provision for bins in toilets.

Reasons for the decision:

To respond to the Motion in respect of the Prostate Cancer UK Campaign ‘Boys need bins’.

Alternative options considered:

None.

Implementation:

This decision will come into force and may be implemented on 2 October 2023 unless the call-in procedure is triggered (as set out in Standing Orders in relation to Overview and Scrutiny).

Information:

The Cabinet considered a motion in relation to the armed forces covenant and military compensation notice of which was given in accordance with Standing Order A14.

The Cabinet provided the following response:

The Cabinet notes that Torbay Council provides 23 public toilet blocks across the bay, many of those are disabled toilets and have bins in them. These public toilets can be used by anyone with any kind of disability including hidden disabilities. We understand how vital it is that we have these toilets as the latest data tells us there are 1368 men living with and beyond prostate cancer in Torbay. It is in fact the second most common cancer after breast cancer. We should remember that incontinence affects males and females, younger and older. The Healthmatic App contains the details and locations for the public toilet facilities in Torbay.

In light of the above, Councillor Tranter proposed and Councillor Tyerman seconded a motion that was agreed unanimously, as set out above.

Interests and Nature of Interests Declared:

None.

Publication date: 22/09/2023

Date of decision: 19/09/2023

Effective from: 30/09/2023

This decision has been called in by:

Councillor Swithin Long who writes (1) The message from Cabinet is that people who are suffering incontinence as a resul of Prostate Cancer should use a disabled toilet. Prostate Cancer UK does not describe people who are suffering incontinence as a result of Prostate Cancer as disabled. Indeed quite the opposite. The Prostate Cancern UK 'Boys need Bins' campaign calls for parity between everyone in relation to the disposal of incontinance pads and other hygiene waste products. The Prostate Cancer UK website says "Boys need Bins is asking for existing legislation, which relates to female toilets, to be updated to give parity to everyone. This will allow men to correctly dispose of incontinence pads, stoma bag by/products and associated hygiene waste items in a dedicated male hygiene bin. It's not satisifactory that men are told to use a disabled toilet to accommodate their needs. Men need their own provision. Telling men to use disabled toilets, but providing bins in female toilets does not provide parity. The logic of the Cabinet's positon is that female users of the public toilets who need to dispose of sanitary products is that they should also use disabled toilets. The Cabinet's position also perpetuates stigma rather than challenges it. We urge the Cabinet to think again. (2) Two Cabinet Members at the Cabinet Meeting advised that they had written to the two MP's who cover Torbay in support of the 'Boys Need Bins' campaign. However, as can be seen from point (1) what the Cabinet have agreed is at odds with the Prostate Cancer UK campaign. Can the Cabinet clarify exactly what they have asked the MP's to support?"
Councillor Nigel Penny who writes (1) The message from Cabinet is that people who are suffering incontinence as a resul of Prostate Cancer should use a disabled toilet. Prostate Cancer UK does not describe people who are suffering incontinence as a result of Prostate Cancer as disabled. Indeed quite the opposite. The Prostate Cancern UK 'Boys need Bins' campaign calls for parity between everyone in relation to the disposal of incontinance pads and other hygiene waste products. The Prostate Cancer UK website says "Boys need Bins is asking for existing legislation, which relates to female toilets, to be updated to give parity to everyone. This will allow men to correctly dispose of incontinence pads, stoma bag by/products and associated hygiene waste items in a dedicated male hygiene bin. It's not satisifactory that men are told to use a disabled toilet to accommodate their needs. Men need their own provision. Telling men to use disabled toilets, but providing bins in female toilets does not provide parity. The logic of the Cabinet's positon is that female users of the public toilets who need to dispose of sanitary products is that they should also use disabled toilets. The Cabinet's position also perpetuates stigma rather than challenges it. We urge the Cabinet to think again. (2) Two Cabinet Members at the Cabinet Meeting advised that they had written to the two MP's who cover Torbay in support of the 'Boys Need Bins' campaign. However, as can be seen from point (1) what the Cabinet have agreed is at odds with the Prostate Cancer UK campaign. Can the Cabinet clarify exactly what they have asked the MP's to support?"
Councillor Cordelia Law who writes (1) The message from Cabinet is that people who are suffering incontinence as a resul of Prostate Cancer should use a disabled toilet. Prostate Cancer UK does not describe people who are suffering incontinence as a result of Prostate Cancer as disabled. Indeed quite the opposite. The Prostate Cancern UK 'Boys need Bins' campaign calls for parity between everyone in relation to the disposal of incontinance pads and other hygiene waste products. The Prostate Cancer UK website says "Boys need Bins is asking for existing legislation, which relates to female toilets, to be updated to give parity to everyone. This will allow men to correctly dispose of incontinence pads, stoma bag by/products and associated hygiene waste items in a dedicated male hygiene bin. It's not satisifactory that men are told to use a disabled toilet to accommodate their needs. Men need their own provision. Telling men to use disabled toilets, but providing bins in female toilets does not provide parity. The logic of the Cabinet's positon is that female users of the public toilets who need to dispose of sanitary products is that they should also use disabled toilets. The Cabinet's position also perpetuates stigma rather than challenges it. We urge the Cabinet to think again. (2) Two Cabinet Members at the Cabinet Meeting advised that they had written to the two MP's who cover Torbay in support of the 'Boys Need Bins' campaign. However, as can be seen from point (1) what the Cabinet have agreed is at odds with the Prostate Cancer UK campaign. Can the Cabinet clarify exactly what they have asked the MP's to support?"
Councillor Kelly Harvey who writes (1) The message from Cabinet is that people who are suffering incontinence as a resul of Prostate Cancer should use a disabled toilet. Prostate Cancer UK does not describe people who are suffering incontinence as a result of Prostate Cancer as disabled. Indeed quite the opposite. The Prostate Cancern UK 'Boys need Bins' campaign calls for parity between everyone in relation to the disposal of incontinance pads and other hygiene waste products. The Prostate Cancer UK website says "Boys need Bins is asking for existing legislation, which relates to female toilets, to be updated to give parity to everyone. This will allow men to correctly dispose of incontinence pads, stoma bag by/products and associated hygiene waste items in a dedicated male hygiene bin. It's not satisifactory that men are told to use a disabled toilet to accommodate their needs. Men need their own provision. Telling men to use disabled toilets, but providing bins in female toilets does not provide parity. The logic of the Cabinet's positon is that female users of the public toilets who need to dispose of sanitary products is that they should also use disabled toilets. The Cabinet's position also perpetuates stigma rather than challenges it. We urge the Cabinet to think again. (2) Two Cabinet Members at the Cabinet Meeting advised that they had written to the two MP's who cover Torbay in support of the 'Boys Need Bins' campaign. However, as can be seen from point (1) what the Cabinet have agreed is at odds with the Prostate Cancer UK campaign. Can the Cabinet clarify exactly what they have asked the MP's to support?"
Councillor Mike Fox who writes (1) The message from Cabinet is that people who are suffering incontinence as a resul of Prostate Cancer should use a disabled toilet. Prostate Cancer UK does not describe people who are suffering incontinence as a result of Prostate Cancer as disabled. Indeed quite the opposite. The Prostate Cancern UK 'Boys need Bins' campaign calls for parity between everyone in relation to the disposal of incontinance pads and other hygiene waste products. The Prostate Cancer UK website says "Boys need Bins is asking for existing legislation, which relates to female toilets, to be updated to give parity to everyone. This will allow men to correctly dispose of incontinence pads, stoma bag by/products and associated hygiene waste items in a dedicated male hygiene bin. It's not satisifactory that men are told to use a disabled toilet to accommodate their needs. Men need their own provision. Telling men to use disabled toilets, but providing bins in female toilets does not provide parity. The logic of the Cabinet's positon is that female users of the public toilets who need to dispose of sanitary products is that they should also use disabled toilets. The Cabinet's position also perpetuates stigma rather than challenges it. We urge the Cabinet to think again. (2) Two Cabinet Members at the Cabinet Meeting advised that they had written to the two MP's who cover Torbay in support of the 'Boys Need Bins' campaign. However, as can be seen from point (1) what the Cabinet have agreed is at odds with the Prostate Cancer UK campaign. Can the Cabinet clarify exactly what they have asked the MP's to support?"