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see us on the net © www.swindonlink.com The Link Magazine • October 1998 3
Council consults with varying response

Swindon Borough Council's attempts to get people to participate in planning how it should deliver
services during next year have had a mixed reception.
Thousands of questionnaires Council leader the public's views on the iMac
asking how council tax cash should Maurice Fanning level of service they ex-
be spent have been returned - pos- said, despite the low pect the council to pro-
sibly attracted by the chance to turnout, he was de- vide. People accuse lo-
win a television. But only 13 peo- termined that the cal government of fail- has
ple turned up at two public con- people of Swindon ing to explain and in-
sultation meetings held at the Link should be engaged in form. It is our duty to be
Centre on 8 September. They were planning services. accountable to the vot-
the first of their kind to be organ- "Given that local au- ers. landed.
ised by the council. thorities are required However social re-
Those who attended were asked by law to deliver a searcher and former
to imagine imagine themselves as range of services, Borough community
councillors dividing the budget be- and given that Swin- worker Martha Parry is
tween services. Freshbrook resi- don has the lowest critical of the question-
dent Terry lies found the exercise council tax of any naire. "The consultation
helpful in understanding the prob- unitary authority, Council leader Maurice exercise is admirable
lems faced by council. "It was a the exercise demon- Fanning with Zena May given the limited budget
good opportunity to talk to coun- strated the limits and Glynis Niven at the and the painful cuts to
cillors and officers face to face. I'm within which the Link Centre meeting services. But it was very
more aware of the difficulties that councillors have to limited in its scope and
the council has in providing serv- work. will provide less information than
ices." "We really do want to find out could have been gained, consider- 177
ing the effort and the money spent.
An opportunity has been lost to
really find out where people's pri-
Start on safe crossing at last orities lie."

Two years after 12 year old Ashley Johnson was knocked down, The consultation exercise will be
reported to council committees
and later died, as he crossed Whitehill Way in Westlea, hopes for Sure, it looks like it comes from the future.
during the autumn and it will in-
a pelican crossing are soon to be realised. But we can assure you,
form the budget making procedure
Ashley's mother, Diane, right, which will be agreed by the Policy its here today. Because iMac is easy to buy
has been assured by Swindon Bor- and Resources Committee at the (no extra decisions). Easy to set up
ough Council that work is about to end of February next year. (just add electricity). And easy to use
start. (easy access to the internet).
A public notice announcing the iMac is a simple, affordable way to get
site from the Link Centre to Shaw LOOSE ENDS a high-performance computer,
Ridge Leisure Park was published right out of the box.
on 17 September. We have two large 7
Diane, from Longthorpe Close, barns full of top
Toothill, does not want it to be a quality furnishing
memorial for Ashley. Her concern fabrics (often more
is for the safety of others. Above than 50 metres) which \ - PowerPC'" G3 processor,
all, she wants to ensure no other are the ends of ranges. ' 4-gigabyte hard disk,
parent experiences the tragedy of Also wallpapers. All are from 32 megabytes RAM,
losing a child this way. leading manufacturers at 56 Kbps built in modem,
She spoke warmly of the sup- to the Mayor of Swindon in Spring greatly reduced prices. and a series of great applications.
port she has received from local 1997. "It's good of the people
people and councillors, extending around Swindon to care enough to Why not come and see us? Say hello to iMac at:
her thanks to all who signed the do something about this - they've Sue Cutcliffe. Giles Green,
5,000 name petition she presented made it happen." Brinkworth, Nr Chippenham.
Tel: 01666 510685 Milton Computer Systems
Open Monday - Saturday 9am - 1pm
Cheney Manor
118 link MIt% Swindon 513685
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Editorial: Roger Ogle commenced in January 1994. The * New & used cycles Inc to, price00500 on local IeOslaOm and 00,96.
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