Cash-strapped local authority accused of forcing town councils to pay for paddling pools’ maintenance

Richard Evans, local democracy reporter

A cash-strapped council is cutting funds for its four outdoor paddling pools and “forcing” town councils to pick up the increased cost, claims an angry town councillor.

Conwy’s four paddling pools at Craig-y-Don in Llandudno, Rhos-on-Sea, Penmaenmawr, and Llanfairfechan are joint-funded by Conwy as well as town councils.

But Conwy County Council is now cutting funding and asking town councils to pick up the difference.

The move comes after Conwy’s cabinet this week refused to budge on shutting 19 of its 40 public toilets, despite pressure from backbenchers.

A town councillor, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “The asks (from Conwy) of town councils is getting out of control. The paddling pools for next year, we give Conwy 27% of the cost, but they are now asking for 50%.

“On top of that, Conwy is not funding the public toilets. The town councils are going to have to fund that.

“So Conwy is trying to force town councils to up their precept (requests) to keep these services going and to make themselves look better when it comes to setting their budget (and council tax) because they are unable to balance their own budgets.

“The council is cutting back on services like paddling pools whilst forcing town councils to ask for more money from taxpayers, so when Conwy up council tax, we take the backlash, not them.

“The pressure is now being put on us from Conwy, who refuse to fund services like the toilets and are saying we’ve got to pay almost double to fund the paddling pool.”

Secured

A copy of the letter from Conwy to town councils, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, said: “Following the significant capital investment this year, the future of the pools is secured for at least the next five years.

“However, revenue funding (for the daily water checks/chemicals, etc.) is still an issue.

“The current agreement for TCs (town councils) to fund 27% of the running costs (agreed pre-COVID) will no longer be enough, given the savings that need to be made by leisure services (£350K this year, with a similar amount expected in 2025/26).

“Though CCBC will cover any repair and maintenance costs for the pools, it is now necessary to ask for the town council to fund the daily maintenance costs in full – this is the equivalent of an increase from 27% to around 50% of the total costs for each site.”

The letter then explains the overall cost of funding the servicing of the four pools is around £35K.

A spokeswoman for Conwy County Council commented: “Conwy County Borough Council works in partnership with Town and Community Councils to protect and sustain community assets across the county. We have discussions annually about a range of issues where we have mutual interest and regularly review existing areas of partnership working.

“The town councils have contributed to the running costs of the paddling pools since 2019.

“Whilst the running costs have increased during this time, the amount that each town council contributes has remained the same.

“We are proud to own and manage four paddling pools in the county and recognise the importance of them to our communities and to tourists coming into the county.”