Indeed they do have duties but also have a duty to spend their dwindling financial resources wisely. In Worthing several public toilets have been permanently closed and opening hours cut back on many others. It's a burden that councils are only too pleased to offload and then say " not my...
It's a cost thing. Building toilets costs money and takes up retail space plus you then have to pay out to maintain them and keep them clean. Welcome to the real world.