Page 3 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • February 2002
Will town's councillors allow arts projects to be savaged

and a massacre of the library service?

Party politicians perform pre-election fandango as cuts to Swindon Dance, grants to arts projects and library closures are proposed.
There's an irony in Swindon • the closure of education and Minister Margaret Thatcher and Over the next few pages the three
Council's slogan: working to- marketing services in museums, former Labour Northern Ireland political party leaders explain how
gether to make a difference. saving £89,000 and 3 jobs; secretary Mo Mowlem not receive they see the situation.
But it's budget making time and • cutting grants to an unspecified their fee for speaking at the Festi- On 7 February the Conserva-
elections for 19 seats on the council number of voluntary organisations val of Literature because the festi- tive's budget inclusive of the cut-
are due in May, the first in two saving £170,000; val grant of only £5,500 has been backs is put to full council, but the
years, and there's ferocious disa- • a reduction of summer holiday cut? Labour and Lib Dems will only
greement about what kind of bor- play schemes saving £100,000, 5 Which voluntary groups offer- reveal their proposals on that day.
ough we should live in. jobs; ing crucial services are to be de- If there is no agreement on council
Control of the stroyed? tax, there will then be serious horse
future council is The critical ques- trading before the final debate at
in the balance +I:" tion is: will the other full council on 28 February.
with seats held by f ^'^ parties - Labour These are public meetings at the
seven Conserva- with 29 seats on the Civic Offices. Go along and see if
tives, 9 Labour " r1! .,, council, the Lib the town's reputation can be sal-
and 3 Lib Dem to Dems with 8, vaged or whether Swindon is to be
r',
be contested, but against the 22 Con- become a cultural wasteland.
not before many .i: ;iL servatives - agree
services could be - j the cuts and dam- Are taxes high enougr
stripped of cash. e age the town's at- If asked, do you want to pay a
Working to a 4,c tempts to build a 9.5%council tax rise, many peo-
new government new image? ple would say 'no.'
timetable, spend- Last year the But if Swindon householders
ing plans and 3^ Conservatives were asked, are you willing to
changes in coun- sided with the Lib pay the same council tax as
cil tax for 2002/ ' Dems to hold coun- other authorities across Wilt-
03 have been set {' Two in linefor elimih The'antics cil tax to 6.8% shire?, many would say 'yes.'
out early for pub- ` of t e city festival aq against the 9.5%, Compare the council tax for
lic comment. tto nhall studigs i,ithe background ;, proposed by La- 2001/2002 in other other parts
The Conserva- bour. If councillors of the county.
tive Party, in control of Swindon • removing grants to non-statu- had paid attention to the council's Swindon £793 Amount above
Council since October - for the first tory music provision like the much slogan, would so many people be Swindon
time in over twenty years - but loved Swindon Young Musicians. fretting about the future of their Salisbury £891 £98 (12%)
with a minority of seats, have pro- Other cutbacks and reductions group, their jobs and their ability Kennet £894 £101 (13%)
posed a council tax rise for next in services are being considered, to plan and deliver services? West Wilts £919 £126 (16%)
year of 9.5% - about £75 on a Band affecting social services and the But should we should thank North Wilts £924 £131 (17%)
D property. They want to pump disabled and increasing charges at councillors for disagreeing? The Average £907 £114 (14%)
£1.55 million into schools as a re- car parks, recreation centres, cem- issues are out in the open and be-
suit of the disastrous Ofsted re- eteries and crematoriums ing debated, giving us the chance Hence the 9.5% hike proposed by
port on the way Swindon ran its Is Swindon to become a cultural to decide what kind of town Swin- the Conservatives is well below
education department under the desert? Will former Tory Prime don should be. neighbouring authorities.
Labour Party.
But this will leave the council
£800,000 short and a range of cut- THE Need
backs in arts and library services COMPLETE curtains
are proposed including: CURTAIN or blinds
• closing 10 or 12 small libraries to Free step by step guide to buying or
concentrate on 7 centres of excel- remortgaging your home. Tel: 0800 5960159 SERVICE made?
lence saving £200,000 and making Design, making and complete
22 redundancies; fitting service available
• a reduction in the council's con- Large range of material samples
tribution to matching central gov- Free estimating and advice
y
ernment grants saving £222,000; Call Trace or Amanda on
• closing the Children's Univer- 01793 611051
sity scheme after summer 2002,
saving £26,000; 'WE COME TO YOU 1-r Home Sew Curtain 1L
• closing the town hall studios and AT HOME OR WORK' We have two large Supplies
relocating Swindon Dance, saving %/ o ,t Free collection barns full of top 100s of fabrics in stock
£64,000; & delivery quality furnishing wos from £2.50/metre
• closing Cre8 Media Studios, sav- fabrics (often more ENDS Heading from 25p/metre
Servicing & repairs
ing £75,000, cutting 4 jobs; than 50 metres) which Lining from £1.50/metre
• closing the public arts service, BIKE ,t No call out charge are the ends of ranges. Cushion pads from £2 each
DOCTOR
Artscape, which organises the City WE ALSO SELL Also wallpapers. All are from L, All types of rails _ r1
Festival, concerts, arts exhibitions leading manufacturers at
and sculpture commissions, sav- * New cycles greatly reduced prices.
ing £100,000, 3 job losses; * New clearance models Home visits arranged or
• cutting grants to cultural activi- (large reductions) Why not come and see us?
ties such as the famed Festival of * Parts & accessories Sheira Brookes. Giles Green,
Literature and the acclaimed Sixth Brinkworth, Nr Chippenham.
Sense Theatre Company, saving Tel: 01666 510685
£100,000, one redundancy; 9am - 4pm