Published on Wednesday 12 June 2019
Today (Wednesday 12 June) BCP Council’s Cabinet approved plans to invest £493,000 in public toilets in Poole.
Cabinet heard how the three preceding councils of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole all achieved balanced or better budgets for the financial year 2018/19, with the Borough of Poole needing a lower than expected contribution from capital resources.
Councillor Vikki Slade, Leader of BCP Council, said, "I am delighted that, at our very first Cabinet meeting, we have been able to kick start the process of achieving consistent services across the three towns – starting with public toilets. Residents and visitors to Poole are seriously short-changed by a lack of toilets compared to Bournemouth, Christchurch and other local towns. We have already identified two sites that we intend to reopen on Poole Quay and at Lake Pier and six other sites will undergo urgent refurbishment with a capital investment of £493,000."
At the meeting Cabinet Members also approved plans to harmonise council tax meaning residents across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole will pay the same levels of council tax from April 2021.
Councillor Vikki Slade, added, "It isn’t fair that residents of Christchurch pay a significantly higher level of council tax than those with the same band of property in Poole and Bournemouth. Our new approach will see everyone in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole pay the same council tax levels as soon as possible. We need to ensure this is linked to everyone receiving the same standards of service too, across the board. Our strategy will aim to achieve both service and council tax equity across the whole area from April 2021."