Review of toilets in Carmarthenshire
Town and community councils in Carmarthenshire could be asked if they would like to take over the public toilets in their areas.
A Task and Finish Group has been carrying out a review of public conveniences in Carmarthenshire.
There are currently 33 grade 2 public toilets in the county operated by the council’s Street Scene division as well as nine Superloos, managed on behalf of the authority by Danfo.
Although the provision of public conveniences is one of the council’s longest-established municipal services in existence, it does not have a statutory obligation to provide the service.
Carmarthenshire County Council is likely to have to make efficiency savings of approximately £30million over the next three years.
As a result the Task and Finish Group has concluded that the cost of operating the grade 2 public facilities – currently £226,000 a year – is not sustainable and has been investigating a range of options for future provision.
The group’s preferred option would be to transfer the toilets to town and community councils as they believe this would improve the quality of the service and provide it in a more cost-effective way.
A report will now go before the Environment Scrutiny Committee next week (July 16) recommending this option.
Town and community councils that take on the responsibility will be offered a one-off payment of £500.
The majority of facilities are considered to be in good working order following a major refurbishment programme carried out in 2003 so would only need minor upgrading, for example, painting.
Chair of the Task and Finish Group Councillor Jim Jones said: “We have looked at a number of issues as part of the review including the location and condition of facilities, as well as the locations of public conveniences provided by other departments and organisations.
“The group carried out site visits to 10 facilities across the county and we consulted with the tourism service as well as the police. We also heard from Llandybie Community Council which took over the public toilets in Llandybie and Penygroes in 2004 and highlighted the benefits gained from such services being managed at a local level.”
Eight public facilities were transferred to town and community councils following a Best Value Review in 2003.
Councillor Jones added: “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 has been based on the principle that the ownership and delivery services at a local level can provide for a better quality of service, as the delivery of these services can then be matched with the needs and expectations of the local community.
“There is also the potential for these services to be delivered on a more cost-effective basis at a local level as it may be possible to integrate the arrangements for the delivery of the service with existing community-based services such as the management and maintenance of a community hall or playing fields.”
The scrutiny committee will consider the report of the Task and Finish Group and present its findings to the council’s executive board for a final decision.
A Task and Finish Group has been carrying out a review of public conveniences in Carmarthenshire.
There are currently 33 grade 2 public toilets in the county operated by the council’s Street Scene division as well as nine Superloos, managed on behalf of the authority by Danfo.
Although the provision of public conveniences is one of the council’s longest-established municipal services in existence, it does not have a statutory obligation to provide the service.
Carmarthenshire County Council is likely to have to make efficiency savings of approximately £30million over the next three years.
As a result the Task and Finish Group has concluded that the cost of operating the grade 2 public facilities – currently £226,000 a year – is not sustainable and has been investigating a range of options for future provision.
The group’s preferred option would be to transfer the toilets to town and community councils as they believe this would improve the quality of the service and provide it in a more cost-effective way.
A report will now go before the Environment Scrutiny Committee next week (July 16) recommending this option.
Town and community councils that take on the responsibility will be offered a one-off payment of £500.
The majority of facilities are considered to be in good working order following a major refurbishment programme carried out in 2003 so would only need minor upgrading, for example, painting.
Chair of the Task and Finish Group Councillor Jim Jones said: “We have looked at a number of issues as part of the review including the location and condition of facilities, as well as the locations of public conveniences provided by other departments and organisations.
“The group carried out site visits to 10 facilities across the county and we consulted with the tourism service as well as the police. We also heard from Llandybie Community Council which took over the public toilets in Llandybie and Penygroes in 2004 and highlighted the benefits gained from such services being managed at a local level.”
Eight public facilities were transferred to town and community councils following a Best Value Review in 2003.
Councillor Jones added: “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 has been based on the principle that the ownership and delivery services at a local level can provide for a better quality of service, as the delivery of these services can then be matched with the needs and expectations of the local community.
“There is also the potential for these services to be delivered on a more cost-effective basis at a local level as it may be possible to integrate the arrangements for the delivery of the service with existing community-based services such as the management and maintenance of a community hall or playing fields.”
The scrutiny committee will consider the report of the Task and Finish Group and present its findings to the council’s executive board for a final decision.
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