British Toilet Association: Archived News from the British Toilet Association 

BTA Director's Report

AGM 29th July 2008

1. Introduction
   1. This is the British Toilet Association’s (BTA’s) ninth AGM and the first report that I have produced.
   2. The most significant event since the previous AGM last November is the change in the officers of the Association effective from from Ist April 2008 - my appointment as Director of BTA, Richard Chisnell’s appointment as Chairman of BTA and Sir William Lawrence’s appointment as President that all took effect on Ist April.
   3. As a consequence of the change in BTA Director the BTA office was relocated from Winchester to Horsham and all management, administration and communication is now based at the Horsham office where the BTA records are also held.
   4. I also became Managing Director of Loo of the Year Awards Ltd (LOYA) effective 1st April and the management, administration and communication for LOYA is now also based within the same Horsham based office as BTA.
   5. My wife Donna has joined me as Company Secretary of both BTA and LOYA and is responsible for the office management and administration of both organisations.
   6. Twenty six members attended a Special members Meeting on 4th April 2008 to introduce the changes, review and discuss the Governments guidance document relating to public toilet provision, and launch the 2008 Loo of the Year Awards.
   7. A lively meeting, topics also included the Sat Lav system introduced by Westminster Council, the Community Toilet Scheme introduced at Richmond, mixed provision of public toilet facilities, the change to the Sex Discrimination Act allowing LA’s to charge for use of urinals, abuse of toilets and anti social behaviour, the use of CCTV in or around toilets, the validity of Radar keys and the impact on facilities of the 2012 Olympics.
2. Membership
   1. There has been a net increase of five members since the last AGM.
   2. Local Authorities remain the largest membership sector although at 62 this still only represent 13% of the UK’s Local Authorities.
   3. Commercial Company membership has remained virtually static with Georgia Pacific being the only company to cease membership, this month, following a takeover of the company.
   4. There has been a sustained effort to increase membership including magazine articles, flyer inserts in related magazines and direct mail and email campaigns to all of the UK’s chief executives.
   5. The BTA website design is to be updated, which will include a reappraisal of it’s attractiveness to visitors that may be potential members.
   6. It is planned to involve available members in BTA projects this year. If any member would like to help please advise me, e.g. local campaigns to improve toilets.
3. Sponsorship
   1. We are very appreciative of the continued support of the previous years’ Corporate Champions – Armitage Shanks, Danfo, Healthmatic, Initial Washroom Solutions, Interpublic Urban Systems, Premier Hygienic and Technical Concepts.
   2. We also welcome Albany Washroom Services who became a Corporate Champion on 1st April, in addition to Albany’s Headline Sponsorship of LOYA.
   3. I have had meetings with all of the Corporate Champions (except Armitage Shanks who I have spoken to, and agreed a future meeting) and I am working with them in different ways to maximise the benefit they can gain from their financial and personal support to BTA. The increasingly high profile established by BTA provides continuous brand association and other marketing benefits in a more cost effective way than any form of advertising.
4. Political Campaign
   1. Following BTA’s participation in the ‘Public Access to Toilets’ Steering Group during 2007 we continued to have meetings with the Communities and Local Government Department (CLG) up to June 2008.
   2. The CLG Strategic Guide – Improving Access to Better Quality Toilets was published on 6th March 2008 but failed to address the issue of statutory Public Toilet (PC) Provision or place any obligation on local authorities relating to PC provision.
   3. The CLG Select Committee were also not satisfied with aspects of the guide and decided to undertake a public inquiry.
   4. The BTA, along with other associations and authorities with interests in PC provision were invited to provide Written Evidence to the Select Committee in April 2008.
   5. Some of the respondents, including BTA, were then asked to attend a hearing at the House of Commons to provide Oral Evidence to the Select Committee of MPs, chaired by Dr.Phyllis Starkey. Richard and I represented BTA and Baroness Andrews, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for CLG gave evidence on behalf of CLG.
   6. The Select Committee are expected to report in October 2008.
   7. We had a meeting with Welsh Assembly representatives in Cardiff on 8th April and discussed the role of BTA, and LOYA, and the BTA’s campaign for better away from home toilets, in particular what can be achieved to improve public toilet provision throughout Wales. It was a very productive meeting and we are confident that the Welsh Assembly is committed to an appropriate programme. We have offered our support and await details of their intentions.
   8. We have attempted to meet with Scottish Government representatives and even arranged a visit to Scotland with that aim. Our attempts to date have been fruitless but will continue until we have the opportunity to discuss the public toilet provision situation in Scotland.
5. Publicity
   1. As in previous years, BTA continues to receive an excellent media profile – toilets are news. The CLG report and subsequent hearings generated significant TV, radio and press interest. The entire Oral Evidence session was shown on the Political Channel extensively.
   2. The media not only publicise the BTA Campaign but regularly invite BTA to contribute to TV and Radio news and other programmes on the concerns of viewers and listeners, and provide general information on all toilet related matters.
   3. BTA also continues to provide comment and articles to national and local press and magazines.
6. Consultancy
   1. BTA has completed consultations for two LAs in the past year. These have been to provide independent reports, with conclusions and recommendations for improvements in public toilet provision. LAs regularly seek advice and further LA consultations are likely following particular recent enquiries.
   2. BTA are also currently providing consultancy to the London Underground relating to LU Station public toilets and the London Development Agency in readiness for the 2012 Olympics and Para Olympics.
   3. BTA have a wealth of experience and expertise and the ability to respond to toilet providers various requirements for assistance on a professional and economic basis compared with other consultancy providers.
   4. The BTA can offer specific or general consultancy advice to LAs considering a Partnership Toilet Scheme. This can include research, planning, communication, PR, implementation and post roll out service level monitoring.
7. The future
   1. The BTA is not broken but needs to evolve.
   2. We are responding to more approaches from the general public for assistance and advice than before and believe that this will continue to be an ongoing requirement.
   3. We are planning to become more active with other associations that are involved with, or can influence, toilet provision, e.g. Help the Aged, The Bog Standard Campaign, Changing Places, The Gut Trust and BSI.
   4. We plan to use BTA and Management Committee members to participate in working groups to improve the services available to its members and toilet providers, suppliers and users, e.g. expansion of membership, updating BTA publications etc.
8. General
   1. In order to save paper, and be environmentally friendly, these notes will only be available on request via email (enquiries@britloos.co.uk) or via the BTA website www.britloos.co.uk.
   2. Finally, I would like to place on record my appreciation for all the help, advice and hard work that the Chisnell Family provided to Donna and I in the transition of both BTA and LOYA from its established base at Winchester to its new home at Horsham. Their enthusiastic and invaluable support was crucial to the success of the handover and we will be eternally grateful to Richard, Maureen, Rosie and Catherine.

July 2008