PLANS to close five public toilets across West Somerset took a step closer this week when the proposals were given the full support of the district council's ruling cabinet.

The final say on whether to consider shutting the doors on conveniences in Blenheim Gardens and at the Carousel in Minehead, together with those in Dunster's Church Street and Porlock will rest with the full council when it meets on September 19.

One set of toilets in Watchet will also be up for permanent closure - originally identified by councillors as the Harbour Road facilities but now simply listed by West Somerset Council as "yet to be identified in Watchet".

At this stage, district councillors are only being asked to support the principle of closures as part of an ongoing drive to bridge an anticipated £1.2 million budget gap.

Chief executive Adrian Dyer said the decision on whether to keep the toilets shut after this year's planned winter closures would be taken later in the year.

The council is keen to close a handful of the district's least used facilities in an attempt to save around £80,000 by making changes to its current contract with waste services provider Veolia.

It comes less than a year after similar plans were dropped following an outcry from local residents and councillors.

But even if councillors do support the idea, the toilets may yet be saved from closure as a full public consultation has to be held and parish and town councillors asked if they would like to take on responsibility for the threatened facilities.

In a report to Wednesday's meeting, Mr Dyer said the council's weak financial standing, coupled with cuts in Government funding, meant it had no choice but to make savings.

"Because of the financial pressures facing the council, it is inevitable that capacity to deliver services will have to shrink even further over the next few years," he said.

"If this is to be minimised it is vital that the overriding objective is to ensure that services are being delivered in the most cost-effective manner whilst at the same time maintaining an acceptable level of service delivery."

While closing five toilets would save £22,000 from the Veolia contract, a further £14,000 would be saved in operational costs associated with the conveniences.

Asking the council's own grounds maintenance staff rather than Veolia to empty litter bins in rural areas would save £19,000, while Veolia has agreed to absorb £10,000 fly-tipping and additional dog bin costs.

A further £15,000 reduction has been negotiated with Veolia, subject to the council renewing its existing contract for a further three years.

Committee members were told a small group of councillors had looked into the existing contract in detail to help find the savings and concluded that Veolia was accountable, aware of its obligations and delivered good value for money.

Councillors were told: "In view of the uncertainty surrounding the council's long-term financial viability, it would not make sense to embark on a long and expensive new procurement exercise at the current time.

"In operational, commercial and practical terms the proposal to enter into a three year [agreement with Veolia] has numerous advantages for the council."

The current contract with Veolia is due to end on October 1.

Members recommended that the authority's usual tendering rules and regulations were waived in favour of signing a new deal with Veolia and backed the principle of permanently closing five toilets from November 1 subject to further consultation.