MANAGING public toilets, green spaces and even local car parks could be on the cards for parish and town councils, as Cornwall Council looks to devolve services to communities.

Cornwall council's devolution team is working with town and parish councils including Callington and Calstock to explore whether they can play a bigger part in managing public conveniences and if it can or should be part of a bigger devolution package.

The unitary authority is looking to save costs and currently manages 220 public loos at an annual cost of approximately £3-million, despite having no statutory obligation to do so.

Council cabinet member for environment Julian German said: 'We recognise the importance of public conveniences to both our residents and visitors. Cornwall councillors have put a lot of effort into understanding how savings can be made in different ways, such as through rate reviews, cutting water and electricity usage.'

He said there could be ways of generating income from public toilets such as advertising from local firms or by charging for use, as was done elsewhere in the UK.

'This is about local communities managing local assets,' he added.

'The local community is placed to look into these opportunities and manage these facilities.'

Cabinet member for localism and devolution Ray Tovey said: 'Our devolution team will work with town and parish councils to see how we can support them if they wish to take on the responsibility of managing local public toilets.

'It may well be that we can help 'package' with other devolved services such as local grass cutting, green space maintenance, managing a local car park — it very much depends on local aspirations.'

Callington currently receives a grant of £16,000 annually to run the town's public conveniences in New Road — but this could be halved next year and gradually phased out.

The grant the authority receives to host Cornwall council's one stop shop in the town hall is also likely to be cut.

Town councillors will have to decide whether to raise the precept, reduce the services or maybe even close them.

Cornwall councillor for Callington Andrew Long said: 'Decisions have to be made between town and parish councils and Cornwall council on what is a necessity and what is not.

'A certain amount of public conveniences are necessary and in the centre of Callington they are vital because of the town's rural nature. They are used by residents and visitors who we want to encourage into our Cornish towns.'

Calstock has two public toilets in the parish, at Calstock and Gunnislake and the parish council is keen to see them retained. It will be meeting with Cornwall council officers this month to see what the options are.