berlingo rev counter and faulty dash electrics

[bingomania]

I have a 2000 MY berlingo 1.4 in which the rev counter has given up, which is no real hardship. However the dash electrics have now started acting up, when the ignition is off the dash background lights come on and the speedo starts 'clicking' and bouncing up and down from 0 - 10 mph. Ultimately this drains the battery and it is becoming a real bind lifting the bonnet and disconnecting/reconnecting the battery everytime I leave the car for more than an hour or two.
The dealer recommends a new dash pod to fix the rev counter and 'maybe' the electrics, all at a cost of £260 + fitting.
Anyone else come across this phenomenon