PARISH councils wanting to take over community assets across Dorset next year could be disappointed.

Many have asked for the transfer of playing field and car parks and even public toilets from the existing district and borough councils when they cease to exist in April 2019 – but if there is any income potential, the response from the new Dorset unitary council is likely to be ‘no’.

It could mean that if parishes do take on public loos they may have to either start charging or increasing their share of the council tax precept to pay for upkeep.

The process has also highlighted how some parish and town councils charge their residents more than neighbouring areas through their council tax precept to pay for facilities often mainly used by visitors.

Larger towns such as Dorchester, Bridport and Swanage are keen to start running more facilities after next year – but many smaller parish councils are reluctant because of the cost.

The issues were highlighted during a Purbeck District Council debate on Wednesday when councillors were presented with a list of loos, land and other facilities which could, potentially, be handed over to the lower tier councils.

Chief Executive Steve Mackenzie warned the policy of those behind the new unitary council was that if items have an income, or income potential, the new council would want it; anything with a cost, or with no obvious benefit might be transferred.

“The aim of the new authority is to ensure their viability into the future,” he said.

Mr Mackenzie warned that requests from parishes to take over car parks or even industrial estates, which in some places are council-owned, were likely to be rejected.

Small parcels of land, often on housing estates, which are retained as open space may be transferred provided there was no development potential.

The council will now talk to parish councils at Studland and Corfe Castle to see if they would like to take on public toilets – although the idea, when it was last raised, was rejected in Studland because of the cost. Corfe Castle has said it would only take on the toilets if it was also handed the West Street car park to pay for the loos and other local facilities.

“If Corfe Castle and Studland don’t take these on we could end up with no public toilets. The parish councils may have to put their hands in their pockets or raise their precept if they want to keep them,” said Cllr Peter Webber.

Cllr Nigel Dragon said neither parish council would want to take on the loos without the means to pay for their upkeep.

Any potential transfer of public land has to be advertised, allowing for public comments, before decisions are finally taken.

The committee also heard that none of the Dorset councils have the legal capacity for transfers of land and other assets and local solicitors were likely to be hired to do the work.