Page 6 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • February 2002
Taxes and cuts in services
Town needs more money
iE mpuzi By Mike Evemy, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group
In October last year, Labour Councillors resigned from power after a vote of no confidence was passed
by Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors.
Professional This followed a highly critical Council. This was worse than ex- To fully understand the town's
web design OFSTED report on the town's edu- pected and has left the Council in financial position we need to look
cation service. At that time, we a desperate financial situation. In back to the introduction of poll tax
and called for the council to be run by response, the Tories have proposed (Community Charge) in 1990.
photography a joint administration of all three that council tax should go up by an Wiltshire County and Thames-
parties. But Labour and the Con- average of £75 per household (a down (the predecessors to Swin-
servatives refused to work with rise of 9.5%), but at the same time don Borough Council) decided to
www.empusa.co.uk each other, so the Tories took con- cutting back on services. The new suspend payments to employees
trol. Tory administra- pension fund so
In early December, the Govern- tion is suggesting that essential serv-
Call Pete on ment announced a £5.8 million cuts in an effort to ices could con-
07730 128700 spending settlement for Swindon balance the books, tinue whilst keep-
blaming the Labour ing the poll tax as
government for low as possible.
COOPERS underfunding Today we are pay-
Swindon services. ing the price for
CHEMIST Liberal Demo- that decision. £27
crats agree that the million of the pro-
WEST SWINDON CENTRE Government do not ceeds of the sale of
Fine fragrances, toiletries, provide enough the Brunel Centre
y
ear piercing etc. mone to Swindon has been used to
to run our services. pay off this pen-
APS, developing & printing Along with the other parties we siondebt. There is still £l2 million
One free 35mm 24 exp film have repeatedly asked for more to pay to bring the fund back to full
with every 35mm roll cash to run these essential serv- funding.
developed on the premises ices, particularly schools and So- Last year, the Liberal Democrats
proposed the council's budget,
Tel: 872033 cial Services. Each time the Gov- which was supported by the Con-
ernment has said there is no more
cash available. servative Group. At that time we
Open 7 days a week
Education invested an extra £2.4 million into
Mon - Fri 9am - 8pm, the education service, £2.3 million
It's unacceptable that Swindon re-
Sat 9am - 6pm, Sun 10am - 3pm ceives only £2,043 per primary for Social Services, £90,000 to sub-
school pupil and £2,632 for each sidise transport on trains for the
secondary school pupil. Compare elderly, a trial of kerbside collec-
Arthur Cohen
.a this with Slough, another M4 uni- tions of paper and metal to 7,000
R.H.A.D. M.S.H.A.A. Ca4t, ^,^(^, v .P c , households across the borough and
tary authority, who receive £821
COUNTY . e n nJ y more for each primary school pu- spent just £26,000 to provide dog
'
Y
LJj2 L bins across Swindon.
HEARING AID sF pil. We did not make any cuts in
A v ^c^`
SERVICES The Adult Placement Service Social Services frontline services.
The council has overspent by
are looking to recruit Liberal Democrats will be work-
The world's finest hearing aids nearly £1 million this year to pro-
experienced people to ing this year to ensure that the
at the most competitive prices. vide services for elderly people
provide respite opportunities council produces the best budget
Home visits without charge who need them. There are more it can from this difficult position.
in their own homes for
or obligation. and more cases where older peo- We must make more money avail-
adults with physical disabilities. ple have finished treatment in hos-
Special terms for over 60's. able for our schools to give Swin-
INTERESTED? pital, but without spaces in Coun- don's children a better education
Thirty day full money back guarantee. cil care homes, they have to re-
Please call whilst protecting those services
Tel: 01793 870047 Hannah or Nicky aj main in hospital blocking a bed which support Swindon's spirit of
and denying another needy pa-
6 Romney Way, The Laurels, on 01793 486210 tient treatment. community.
Shawc. Swindon, SN5 5QB for further details
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New patients welcome Tel: 01793 840401 Fax: 01793 840402

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