Decision details

The Director of Community Services submitted a report seeking Committees approval for the proposed Changing Places toilets in Ribchester to be removed from the Capital Programme for the year 2023/2024 and be replaced with a future bid to the Levelling Up Fund Round 3 when/if this is announced.

On 14 March 2023 Committee had recommended to Policy and Finance Committee that the Changing Places Scheme be included in the capital programme for the year 2023-24. The scheme comprised the provision of three highly specialised disabled toilets in Ribchester, Edisford Bridge, and the Castle Grounds. The scheme was to be financed by the Levelling Up Fund Round 2, subject to a number of conditions, one of which what that the monies should be spent before the end of March 2024.

The report noted that following investigation into the proposed site at Ribchester, it would be necessary to divert a buried low-voltage electricity cable at an estimated cost of £12,000, which at the earliest would be done within 14 weeks after receipt of up-front payment. The delay would take the scheme beyond the deadline of March 2024.

It was proposed that the Council delivered the Edisford Bridge and Castle Grounds toilets within the 2023-24 financial year, and that Officers make a new submission to any Levelling Up Fund Round 3 funding when/if this was announced, for the toilets at Ribchester.

Officers confirmed at the meeting that other sites in Ribchester had been considered, however alternatives were not feasible. Members felt that the provision of the specialised toilet in Ribchester was important and wanted to pursue other funding should Round 3 not proceed. Members also wanted to consider the process when putting schemes forward for grants, to reduce similar issues arising in the future. It was noted that the window for grant applications were often very short, therefore, detailed work was not always possible.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Approve the removal of the Ribchester Changing Places Toilet from the Levelling Up Fund Round 2 submission for delivery in the year 2023-2024.

2.    Approve a submission to the Levelling Up Fund Round 3, when/if this is announced, for the monies to deliver a Changing Places Toilet in Ribchester.