Public conveniences
Importance of public conveniences
The value of public conveniences has been recognised in a recent report by the Communities and Local Government Committee which is appointed by the House of Commons. The report, HC636 entitled The Provision of Public Toilets, was published on 22nd October 2008 and has some interesting and useful recommendations that may be relevent to the facility at Lydford.
The public conveniences at Lydford are owned and managed by West Devon Borough Council (WDBC) who have other similar facilities at several locations in the borough. The Lydford conveniences are used by tourists and visitors to the area, peripatetic workers, passing motorists and some local people. This facility is undoubtedly a valuable resource, however there is no statutory obligation on WDBC to keep it open. In previous years the cost of providing this service has been shared between WDBC and Lydford Parish Council (LPC) with the latter body meeting the cost of winter opening. In addition Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) has met approximately 50% of the winter opening costs by means of a grant to LPC.
Return to top of pageGrumbles over who pays
At the April 2006 meeting of Lydford Parish Council the councillors discussed costs of winter opening of the public conveniences (paragraph 52.1 of the minutes). The councillors were concerned that costs had risen 84 pounds above the 650 pounds budgeted and they unanimously agreed to offer only the budgeted figure, even if that meant that the facility would have to close for the winter 2006/07 period. Fortunately the borough council accepted the contribution offered.
The parish council minutes attribute the cost increase to "cleaning costs" but West Devon Borough Council, who manage public conveniences throughout the borough, maintain that this was not the case and the main reason costs rose on this occasion was water and electricity price rises. Does it matter what has caused the cost increase? Well yes, if one wishes to control costs rather than take the easy option of closing the facility for the winter months.
The minutes of the Parish Council for November 2007 record that the net cost to the parish for winter opening of the Lydford public conveniences had risen to 1171.88 pounds from 674 pounds the previous year, an increase of 497.88 pounds.
As this rise in costs equates to 73.9% rise on the previous sum it begs the question "Why the massive increase". The amount requested by WDBC for 07/08 was only just over 54 pounds more than that requested for 06/07 and overall annual cost rise has been contained to just 3.71%. Well done WDBC!
The situation is complicated by the underpayment by LPC in 06/07 but the main problem seems to have been that the grant offered by DNPA fell significantly. Although a sum of 770 pounds was requested only 351 pounds was offered.
This is not then a case of uncontrolled cost rises rather a dispute over which of three public bodies should carry what proportion of the costs. Winter closure probably does little to help WDBC finances as they lose the contribution from LPC (and DNPA) and there are some costs associated even with a locked building. DNPA benefit as they do not have to pay the amount of the grant and can spend the money on something else. LPC benefited in both 07/08 and again in 08/09 as the amount they would have contributed from the precept was not paid.
Return to top of pageLPC witholds its contribution
Minutes of the July 2008 meeting of LPC show that councillors unanimously agreed to withhold payment of the contribution for the year 08/09 (para 89.1). It is not clear just what happened to this money or indeed what happened to the money that was saved in 07/08. Has the money been used for something else? Why ask for a 3.25% increase in precept over the previous year for 08/09 (LPC minutes December 2007 para 130.1) when the councillors must have had a good idea that they would not be prepared to pay the contribution?
Fortunately the October 2008 minutes of LPC recorded (para 117.1) that there would be no budget provision for winter opening of the public conveniences in financial year 09/10. Hopefully this has ended the situation where the public lose out by not having this facility and have no obvious benefit from reduced Council Tax (parish council precept) to show for it
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