Arising from a report * of the Head of Housing and Property Services and a recommendation from the Managing the Environment Policy Development Group, the PDG had recommended that:
(i) The Crediton Town Council £5k contribution be accepted for the 2015/16 financial year and keep both Newcombes Meadow and Market Street toilets open. This contribution to meet 100% costs for the provision of public conveniences in Crediton from 2016/17 onwards.
(ii) The transfer of the Newcombes Meadow convenience from MDDC to Crediton Town Council with the appropriate legal conditions to ensure that the property continues to provide public services for the community be agreed.
(iii) The transfer of the closed St Laurence Green convenience from MDDC to Crediton Town Council, with the appropriate legal conditions to ensure that the property is not sold for profit or used for commercial purposes, be agreed.
(iv) The £1k contribution from Cullompton Town Council be accepted and to negotiate 50% funding post the May election for the remainder of the 2015/16 financial year to prevent closure on the 1 September 2015.
(v) A 100% contribution from Cullompton Town Council be sought, to be in place for 2016/17 to maintain these facilities.
(vi) The three year transition plan providing for full costs to be met by Bampton Town Council in 2017/18 be agreed.
(vii) The asset transfer from MDDC to Bampton Town Council in the 2017/18 financial year includes the appropriate legal conditions to ensure the property continues to provide public services for the Community.
(viii) The £500 contribution from Sampford Peverell Parish Council be approved for the 2015/16 financial year and to continue to monitor usage during 2015/16 with a view to closure between 1 October and 1 April each year
(ix) The three year transition plan providing for full costs to be met by Hemyock Parish council by 2017/18 be agreed.
(x) The transfer of the Hemyock convenience in the 2017-2018 financial year from MDDC to HPC, with the appropriate legal conditions to ensure that the property is not sold for profit or used for commercial purposes, be agreed.
(xi) Any future onward sale of facilities that had been transferred to Town and Parish Councils would be subject to appropriate valuation to agree terms of sale, together with appropriate legal agreements.
The Chairman read an email from Cllr Mrs Woollatt seeking clarification of the cost of transferring public convenience provision to Parishes and querying the issue of the Silverton property.
The Cabinet Member for Housing outlined the contents of the report presented to the PDG and outlined his communications with the legal service regarding implications and the need for pre-emption clauses to be included in any transfer. He updated Members on negotiations that had taken place with 5regard to Newcombes Meadow and St Laurence Green, Crediton, Cullompton, Bampton and Sampford Peverell. With regard to Sampford Peverell, water usage would be monitored, following receipt of this information, a decision for possible closure from 1 October till 1 April each year may take place. Discussion took place regarding the Silverton property and transfer costs that had been agreed. Concern was raised that a cost of £30K had been negotiated but that other transfers peppercorn rates were being discussed. The use of the property, that of a proposed community well-being centre was raised and whether this was within the remit for permitted use.
It was suggested that a separate report be received regarding the Silverton transfer issues.
It was therefore:
RESOLVED that the recommendations of the PDG be approved subject to:
An amendment to (viii) inserting “with a view to closure between 1 October and 1 April each year” after 2015/16.
An amendment to (xi) by removing “ if applicable any claw back amount” and adding “together with appropriate legal agreements”
A further recommendation (xii): that a separate report regarding the previous Silverton toilet facility be brought before the Cabinet within 3 months of the new municipal year.
(Proposed by the Chairman)
Note :
Cllr Mrs J Roach declared a personal interest as Chair of the Group proposing to renovate the Silverton Toilets.
*Report previously circulated; copy attached to minutes.