Agenda item

Retention of Public Toilet Provision - Station Approach, Sheringham

Meeting of Cabinet, Tuesday, 14th April, 2026 10.00 am (Item 13.)

Executive Summary

The Station Approach Public Toilets, Sheringham were transferred to North Norfolk Railway in 2015. As part of this transfer North Norfolk Railway redeveloped the toilets and agreed to maintain them as Public Toilets for period of 10 years. The period comes to an end on the 31^st March 2026.

North Norfolk Railway, recognising the importance of these toilets to the wider tourist offering in Sheringham have offered to continue their provision as public toilets but have asked for contribution to reflect their additional financial cost in doing so.

This paper set out the options available and recommends that the Council reaches a suitable agreement with North Norfolk Railway to retain public access to the toilets.

Options considered

To do nothing, in which case North Norfolk Railway will most likely remove the public access to the toilets and use them to serve users of the station only.
To enter in an agreement with North Norfolk Railway to retain the toilets as public access throughout the year for the opening times specified in the report.

Consultation(s)

North Norfolk Railway
Liz Withington

Recommendations

That Cabinet resolve to enter into an agreement with North Norfolk Railway to retain public access to the Station Approach Toilets.
That Cabinet provides a steer on the period in years that they wish the agreement to run for.
That Cabinet authorises the Director of Service Delivery to negotiate with North Norfolk Railway on the exact terms of the agreement in order to secure the best value for money position possible.
That Cabinet delegate to the to the Director of Service Delivery and the Director for Resources, in consultation to with the Portfolio Holder for IT, Environmental & Waste Services and the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Estates & Property Services the ability to enter into the agreement to retain the Station Approach Toilets for public use.

Reasons for recommendations

To continue the provision of public access toilets in line with the areas of the Corporate Plan objectives relating to Investing in our Local Economy and Infrastructure and also A Strong, Responsible and Accountable Council.

Background papers

None

Wards affected

Sheringham North

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Callum Ringer

Contact Officer

Steve Hems, Director of Service Delivery

steve.hems@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Links to key documents:
Corporate Plan:	INVESTING IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY & INFRASTRUCTURE Continuing to promote North Norfolk’s diverse tourism and visitor offer A STRONG, RESPONSIBLE & ACCOUNTABLE COUNCIL Reviewing service delivery arrangements so as to realise efficiencies without compromising service standards and outcomes Exploring opportunities to work further with stakeholders and partner organisations.
Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)	There is no direct budget provision made in respect of the Sheringham Station Approach Toilets however it is anticipated that savings associated with other public toilet provision within the Waste and Related Services Contract will cover a substantial part if not all of the costs of any agreement with North Norfolk Railway.
Council Policies & Strategies	Public Toilet Provision Strategy 2021

Corporate Governance:
Is this a key decision	Yes
Has the public interest test been applied	This paper contains commercially sensitive information in relation to North Norfolk Railways cost of service provision for the public toilets. This has been included in a confidential appendix
Details of any previous decision(s) on this matter	Cabinet January 2015 Decision to transfer land to North Norfolk Railway.