Council decides how you’ll spend a penny!

 

PUBLIC toilets in Llansteffan, Ferryside, Pendine, Burry Port and Cenarth are to remain under the control of the county council.

 

The remaining 28 grade two facilities will again be offered to town and community councils to take over.

The Executive Board has decided to revise the offer to include a £1,000 one-off payment (an increase from the initial £500 offered) and the council will also pay the business rates.

Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Philip Hughes said: “We first wrote to the town and community councils in September last year to ask if they would consider taking over the responsibility for public conveniences. Of the 25, two were prepared to take over the responsibility providing we carried out some upgrading works/repairs and a further five said they would consider it.

“Some of the responses we had said that they would consider it, but that they felt the payment was too low or they could not afford the business rates. We have therefore decided to revise our offer and increase the one-off payment to £1,000 and cover the cost of the business rates permanently.

“The council does not have a statutory obligation to provide public conveniences and unfortunately, in these difficult financial times, the cost of operating these grade 2 facilities just isn’t sustainable.”

The decision follows a review carried out by a Task and Finish Group from the Environment Scrutiny Committee.

The move will save the authority £79,000 next year and is part of raft of efficiency savings being put forward.

Director of Technical Services Richard Workman said: “Over the last 10 years there has been an increasing trend for local communities to take on a greater responsibility for the delivery of local services, such as the provision of public toilets. This can lead to a better quality of service, as it can be matched with the needs and expectations of the local community; and it can be more cost-effective as it can be incorporated into the arrangements for existing community-based services such as the management and maintenance of a community hall or playing fields.”

The decision does not affect the county’s nine Superloos which are managed on behalf of the council by Danfo.

The following grade 2 facilities will remain under county council control: Burry Port; Ferryside; Cenarth (summer only); Llansteffan (main car park); Pendine (beach car park).

The remaining facilities will be offered to town and community councils to take over: Carreg Cennen; Llansteffan Green; Kidwelly; Gorslas; Pendine Springwell; Ammanford Co-op car park; Ammanford park; Whitland; Tumble; Cross Hands; Drefach Felindre Parc Puw; Newcastle Emlyn;

Talley; Pontyweli; Abergorlech; Llanybydder car park; Llanybydder (near Cross Hands Hotel);

Llansaint; Glanaman; Alltwallis; Llanboidy; Brechfa; Cynwyl Elfed; Llanpumpsaint; Meinciau; Llanddowror Meidrim; Pencader.