Some charity donations in the St Keverne parish are effectively being split between the government Treasury and Cornwall Council, it was revealed last week.

Because St Keverne Parish Council is forced to pay business rates on its public toilets, half of this money goes to the Treasury while the other half comes back into the county - straight into the coffers of Cornwall Council, which offloaded the toilets onto the parish as part of ongoing budget cuts.

As a result of these rates being enforced, a large proportion of the money comes through charity donations made to the council, such as through the charity car parks.

Upon hearing where the money ended up, parish councillor Bill Frisken said: “I'm unhappy about that. I think that's iniquitous.”

He added that it was “ridiculous” Cornwall Council was imposing business rates on toilets.

“I can't see why a public toilet is classified as a business. It seems ridiculous. We don't even demand you pay in the slot anymore,” he said.

Cornwall Council then revealed that business rates in such areas were in fact “discretionary,” saying: “They can remove it, which I'll endeavour to do.”

However, he warned it was much easier to get the rates waived for charities - and as toilet owners the council was not a charity, although it was charity money being used to pay.