Following yesterday’s Autumn Budget, Shanklin Town Councillor and former Mayor, Jon Gilbey, has welcomed the Chancellor’s commitment to remove business rates from public toilets.
Shanklin Town Council pay in excess of £11,000 per annum, in addition to maintenance and running costs, to provide 6 public toilets for residents and visitors – including state of the art amenities at Falcon Cross and Tower Cottage.
In recent years the Town Council has campaigned locally and nationally to have the rateable charge removed, particularly as it also applies to toilets for disabled people.
Cllr Gilbey has today said:
“We have long since argued that Town and Parishes have been penalised for taking on responsibility for providing services, previously provided by the Local Authority: it makes no sense to pay £11,000 a year in addition to running costs”.
Shanklin Town Council received the prestigious National Loo of the Year Award in 2016/17 and have increased opening hours and improved service provision since taking responsibility for this service. Cllr Gilbey has written to the previous and current Prime Minister, as well as Local Government Ministers, to highlight the inequity of the current system that has undoubtedly prevented many Town and Parish Councils from taking them on due to the additional unaffordable financial cost to its residents.
Cllr Gilbey concluded:
“We have asked for a reduction in the £11,000 for the year, particularly as the authority has discretion, and we hope this Government-led initiative is brought forward so that our residents do not have to continue to pay double rates for this much needed amenity.
Article continues below this advertisement “I will also be working with Danfo UK to help any town or parish council that wishes to investigate alternative delivery of this service with reduced overhead costs associated with utility, maintenance and cleaning. The Shanklin business plan has proven to work, and there is absolutely no reason it cannot be replicated across the Island, for the benefit of our residents and visitors”.
