Joining the Comfort Scheme
Perth and Kinross Council also offer a number of free
of charge public toilets through partnership with service providers
such as hotels, pubs and public buildings. This service is known as
the Perth and Kinross Comfort Scheme. The scheme
has been developed by the Council in consultation with Perthshire
Tourist Board.
See current
Comfort Scheme locations
Interested in participating in the Comfort Scheme?
If you are a business interested in entering into a Perth and
Kinross Comfort Scheme some of the common questions about the
scheme are listed below, detailing what is involved and how to
go about applying to be included in the scheme.
Please telephone the Customer Service Centre on
01738 476476 to for further information.
Confirmed income at several stages throughout the year, when at
the moment people may be using your toilets for no additional
income.
- More potential customers (mostly tourists or other visitors)
coming into your premises who may buy something from you.
- Good publicity - your business will be advertised via the
Council and Perthshire Tourist Board as a Comfort Scheme
location.
What do I have to do?
Not much more than you do at the moment! Keep the toilets
available, keep them clean, display signage and in return we pay
you.
How much money can I expect from
a Partnership?
Each premise is assessed by a Council Officer and a financial
offer is made depending on how many, the standard and types of
facilities you have, and your opening hours. If you are
successfully placed on the scheme you will be paid 3 times a
year.
Who pays for the running costs?
The money you receive from the Perth & Kinross Council is
intended to pay for the extra costs incurred by offering the
Comfort Scheme.
How long must I enter into a Partnership for?
It is preferable that you enter into a 3 year agreement. This is
mainly to cut down on the inconvenience of re-organising
the Partnerships every year. However this is negotiable
if you do not want to enter into a 3 year agreement.
How many people can I expect to be using my
toilets?
It is impossible to say, but it is hoped that in busier towns
there may be several Partnerships, as well as existing Council
Public Toilets, to help spread the demand.
Am I expected to allow trouble makers in to
use my toilets?
Although we would expect your toilets to be publicly available,
you are entitled to expect the same standards of behaviour as
you would from customers in your shop, pub or restaurant. If
someone there is causing trouble, you would be entitled to ask them
to leave and in extreme cases bar them from entry. The same applies
to people using your toilet facilities.
I run a Licensed Premise, will
letting children in to use the facilities affect this?
No, children can enter the bar area to travel to your toilets,
as long as they do not stay.
How will this affect my insurance?
We strongly suggest you advise your insurers that you are
entering the scheme. As a business which admits the public, you
will already require to have public liability insurance. The advice
we have from the insurance industry is that there is no reason why
you should be prevented from entering the scheme.
In a minority of cases, your insurance company may slightly
increase your premium. If that is the case, we are happy to discuss
this with you.
What happens when the Partnership is set
up?
A Minute of Agreement is signed by both the provider and Perth
& Kinross Council to formally set up the Partnership. Signage
is organised and an official start date established.
Are my premises inspected on a regular
basis?
A dedicated Officer is available to offer advice and they
will inspect your premise routinely.
I am interested in the Comfort scheme, what
do I do next?
If you have not already been contacted by a Council Officer,
please telephone the Customer Service Centre on 01738 476476 for
further information.
What if I want to be released from
the Partnership?
Although you may sign up for the Partnership for 3 years,
you can withdraw at any time by giving 2 months written notice.
If you have any other queries please do not hesitate to contact
the Customer Service Centre.
