Argyllshire public toilets under threat

A SAVINGS option to remove council involvement from running public toilets in Argyll and Bute remains on the table, although one councillor has revealed that some community groups have already expressed an interest in taking over the facilities.
A savings option published by the council last week suggested that the local authority could withdraw its involvement in the operation of the public conveniences in a bid to save £100,000 a year.
Closure, sale and community asset transfer were mentioned as possibilities, and Councillor Dougie McFadzean (SNP, Kintyre and the Islands) said that community groups had voiced interest.
He explained: “There is no doubt about the financial picture for the council, including my area of business — some of the very difficult savings options the integration joint board has to consider.
“A lot of options discussed are very unpalatable, and so is the public toilet option, but I know there are community groups interested in taking on ownership and running public conveniences.
“They have inspirational ideas of how they could not only keep them open, but make them better. There is the opportunity to look at this on a case-by-case basis and at the moment all options need to be on the table.”
Reports last week revealed that the authority was considering either closing, selling or handing over the 57 public conveniences it operates across the area in a bid to save £100,000 a year — a move which garnered significant national press attention.
Two amendments were moved in a vote among the full council which would have seen the savings option removed immediately, ahead of the authority setting its budget in February.
But a motion moved by one of the council’s joint depute leaders, to keep all savings options on the table as part of the budget-setting process, prevailed.
The full council met on Wednesday, November 26, and agreed recommendations listed in the report, which included that a range of operational savings — which have no effect on jobs — should be incorporated into the budget outlook.
Other savings options will remain part of the budget process, but no decisions will be made on whether to implement any until February.
In moving the motion to accept the recommendations, Councillor Ross Moreland (Liberal Democrat, Dunoon) said: “The chancellor (Rachel Reeves) will deliver her budget today (November 26). That has a knock-on effect on the Scottish Government budget which has a knock-on effect on our budget.
“To take something off the table does not make any sense. I was asked about the challenge and we are prepared to meet that challenge by keeping everything on the table.
“The executive director (Kirsty Flanagan) has said that there are no easy options. We can ask the team to find others, but those will be more difficult.
“Argyll and Bute Council has a reputation for good financial management. Everybody hopes we do not have to make decisions, but to take this off the table because it has made the news makes no sense.”
Councillor Daniel Hampsey (Conservative, Dunoon) moved the first amendment, saying: “This proposal has caused profound concern among our communities and is a clear outlier in the budget process.
“It has caused the council attention for all the wrong reasons. Elected members must be clear about what we stand for and where our values lie.
“They (public toilets) are vital for families, visitors and those with health conditions, and [the proposal] will shift the burden on to local businesses.
“The scale and nature of these concerns make it inappropriate to keep this option on the table all the way through to February.”
Councillor Jennifer Kean’s (Independent, South Kintyre) amendment would also have seen an option to move to an appointment-only system at customer service points removed, along with the public toilet option.
She said: “The proposal [on service points] removes the council from where people most need face-to-face support. This is put forward year after year, but this service has already been cut to the bone.
“Service points are relied on by older people, the digitally excluded and people in crisis. [The proposal] creates real barriers for the most vulnerable in our society.
“The same applies to public toilets. Access to a safe public toilet affects whether people can leave their homes and travel into town.
“I urge [councillors] to reject these proposals.”
Councillor Moreland’s motion was seconded by Councillor Jim Lynch (SNP, Oban South and the Isles) and received 20 votes in a roll call process.
Councillor Hampsey’s motion, seconded by Councillor Maurice Corry (Conservative, Lomond North) received nine votes, while Councillor Tommy MacPherson was the only other councillor to vote for Councillor Kean’s amendment, having seconded it.
As part of the recommendations, the council will now consult with trade unions on possible savings options, with the process due to last into the New Year.