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Response by the Cabinet Member: It is important to note that the duty to prepare a local toilet strategy does not require local authorities to provide and maintain public toilets directly, but rather it compels local authorities to take a strategic view on how facilities can be provided by working in partnership with others and accessed by their local population. The operation of public toilets by the county council is not a funded statutory function and due to increasing pressures on budgets, the council concluded some years ago that it would no longer continue to operate public toilets to protect the delivery of its core and statutory functions. This was not a decision it took lightly and was taken in consideration of pressures on other budget areas such as social care and education. Whilst we do review funding each year, the pressures in other areas of statutory service delivery remain such that it has not been possible to make provision for any further support for toilets at this time. A number of Town and Community Councils, or community interest groups at the time took the opportunity to take on the operation of the toilet facilities, of which Hay on Wye Town Council was one such entity, and I would like to thank them for their continued operation. I recognise that the need to increase charges can be challenging but it can be necessary and I appreciate that there is a need for Hay on Wye Town council to review its fees and charges, as required, for such services. I will take this opportunity to remind members that Powys County Council continues to support public toilets indirectly by giving a concession for the business/non-domestic rates element. However, should current operators take the decision to stop operating toilets they will be closed in line with the previous cabinet decision.
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