On Thursday 18th October at an External Overview and Scrutiny Panel Labour Councillor Tricia Elliott proposed that the Committee ask the Portfolio Holder from Warwickshire County Council to come to the panel and update on funding being sought for a Changing Places facility in Nuneaton & Bedworth.

Changing places toilets provide for the needs of all people with disabilities. People with profound and multiple learning disabilities, as well as people with other physical disabilities such as spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis often need extra equipment and space to allow them to use the toilets safely and comfortably. These needs are met by Changing Places toilets.

Changing Places toilets have been provided in Warwick, Stratford and Leamington, but none in Nuneaton and Bedworth so far. The proposal by Labour Councillor Tricia Elliott would have seen the Portfolio Holder for Warwickshire County Council come to Nuneaton and Bedworth and update local Councillors on the progress in ensuring that Nuneaton & Bedworth has such a facility also, a perfectly reasonable proposal considering Warwickshire County Council takes 76% of Council Tax.

But the local Conservatives, keen to ensure Tory-run Warwickshire County Council is not held to account voted against this proposal. Instead they proposed that the Portfolio holder for Nuneaton & Bedworth (which takes 12.6% of Council Tax) speak to the committee instead, ensuring that Councillors would not have a chance to press for fair funding for Nuneaton & Bedworth.

Councillor Tricia Elliott Commented: “Tonight the tories showed their nasty side by voting down a motion I raised to look into funding for a Changing Places disabled facility in the borough. My motion was to tie WCC down to providing this much needed provision, but the Conservatives, with their usual political posturings, voted to make this the responsibility of NBBC instead.

With such a small slice of Council Tax (12.6%) NBBC cannot afford to fund a Changing Places toilet, which costs several thousand to open and maintain. Leicestershire County Council fund them across the border, and we think Warwickshire should fund one in our borough.

But the Conservatives did not agree. By voting for NBBC to be responsible for this matter they have deprived our area of the chance to win more funding from Warwickshire County Council, and further delayed this vital facility for many vulnerable people in our Borough. Once again they have put politics above the interests of local people.”