Page 4 - link magazine

4 The Link Magazine • February 2002
Taxes and cuts in services
The cuts. Why? Bad treatment for Swindon by the government
By council leader Mike Bawden, leader of the Conservative Group
At atime when the UK economy Since its formation in 1997 Swin- capped Swindon's spending at the resources for next year treated
has been booming, when the don Borough Council has received level of the SSA, which meant the Swindon badly. The average in-
town continues to grow apace a low 'standard spending assess- government effectively controlled crease in government support is
and is said to be one of the ment' (SSA) from the government. council tax levels and held down 5.4%, but Swindon's increase is
major contributors to the nation's This is the formula by which the spending on local services. only 4.3%. Government support
economic success, why is it that government allocates resources Since capping restrictions were for Swindon's education and so-
there could be huge reductions and steers local spending. Ap- removed the council has spent in cial services is well below the na-
in arts provision and grants to proximately 71p in every £1 spent line with gov- tional average.
voluntary groups? by Swindon Borough Council on ernment guide- In cash terms,
local services comes from central lines. The result government sup-
Confused? The Link has asked government. Swindon's low SSA is a council tax port to the council
the party leaders to explain why means the government gives the about 14% lower for the next finan-
Swindon Borough Council has council a low amount of money to than the Wilt- cial year is about
such a poor financial position spend on local services. shire average £1.5 million less
and why cuts are being proposed. Until 1999, central government and 15% below than would be the
the national av- case had Swindon
erage for com- received an "aver-
parable authori- age" allocation.
FOR SPECIALIST LEGAL ADVICE ties. This means The result is a
Swindon has shortfall in the
Conveyancing (On-Line Estimate Service)
about £6 million budget for essen-
* Employment a year less than tial services. An
* Family Law Familk other similar increase in coun-
LAWYERS councils have to cil tax can makeup
* Wills & Probate
spend on serv- this shortfall. This
For more information or detailed conveyancing costs visit: ices. requires an increase of at least 4%
www.crd.org.uk Against this background of on top of the 4.5% increase already
scarce resources, several factors implied by the government's re-
Or contact us at: Commerce House indicate the need for more money source allocation. The council is
34/35 Commercial Road for Swindon's services: consulting on a council tax increase
Swindon SNI 5NS • Recent national audit and in- of 9.5%.
Email: [email protected] spection reports criticise the pre- The government has allocated
vious administration's manage- inadequate money to Swindon's
Tel: (01793) 617617
ment of resources and ability to education services, therefore a key
Fax: (01793) 511249 deliver services effectively within objective is to improve the level of
those resources. local funding for schools. One way
• Swindon is one of the lowest of doing this is to find savings in
spending authorities for education other service areas, so there might
when spend per pupil is compared be proposals to reduce some serv-
nationally. ices or deliver them differently.
• Recent audit reports criticise the If the government gave enough
previous administration for fail- money to Swindon Council there
ing to invest in central resources to would be little need to raise coun-
support service departments. cil tax or reduce services. I have
• Key services are struggling to asked the Swindon MPs to sup-
maintain spending within avail- port me in lobbying the govern-
able budgets. ment for more money to help Swin-
• A rising population in Swindon don Borough Council overcome
demands new schools and serv- its financial problems without plac-
ices. ing an undue burden on local tax-
The government's allocation of payers.

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