I had a slightly delayed response the other day to my recent Freedom of Information request for three 'exempt' reports.
I asked for the 'Public Convenience Transfer Position', 'Cross Hands West Development' and the report leading to a £20,000 grant to the new Odeon in Llanelli ('Costa Fortune').
The full, mixed response can be seen here.
The remaining thirty or so public toilets (apart from the Danfo 20p-a-go ones under contract) are being offloaded or 'transferred' onto Town and Community Councils with a small cash contribution for some paint and minor repairs. The council wants to save £90,000 a year. If they're not taken over by April, they're closing which doesn't auger well for the tourist season.
Why details of the transfer of public toilets from County to Town/Community Councils should be considered behind closed doors has been a source of puzzlement to local bloggers for some time. There has been much discussion in council meetings (hours in fact) and the matter has been rumbling on for over a year. However, my request was refused.
The constipated refusal concludes with the 'public interest test';
"I accept that there is always likely to be a public interest in information concerning publicly owned property and the expenditure of public funds.
Nevertheless, in this case, there is in my view a stronger, countervailing public interest in ensuring that the Council is able to complete transactions in private, up to the point that agreements are concluded. This in turn ensures best value for the taxpayer, which is clearly in the public interest."
So decisions on public buildings, between two public bodies with the use of public funds is considered suitable for 'exemption' and will protect the taxpayer. Dear me. And it's toilets for goodness sake.
Incidentally, although the report regarding the £20,000 to the Odeon was released, I can still see no reason why a £2bn global company couldn't manage without it.
I asked for the 'Public Convenience Transfer Position', 'Cross Hands West Development' and the report leading to a £20,000 grant to the new Odeon in Llanelli ('Costa Fortune').
The full, mixed response can be seen here.
The remaining thirty or so public toilets (apart from the Danfo 20p-a-go ones under contract) are being offloaded or 'transferred' onto Town and Community Councils with a small cash contribution for some paint and minor repairs. The council wants to save £90,000 a year. If they're not taken over by April, they're closing which doesn't auger well for the tourist season.
Why details of the transfer of public toilets from County to Town/Community Councils should be considered behind closed doors has been a source of puzzlement to local bloggers for some time. There has been much discussion in council meetings (hours in fact) and the matter has been rumbling on for over a year. However, my request was refused.
The constipated refusal concludes with the 'public interest test';
"I accept that there is always likely to be a public interest in information concerning publicly owned property and the expenditure of public funds.
Nevertheless, in this case, there is in my view a stronger, countervailing public interest in ensuring that the Council is able to complete transactions in private, up to the point that agreements are concluded. This in turn ensures best value for the taxpayer, which is clearly in the public interest."
So decisions on public buildings, between two public bodies with the use of public funds is considered suitable for 'exemption' and will protect the taxpayer. Dear me. And it's toilets for goodness sake.
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