Page 3 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • October 2002 3
Is it time for an elected mayor? Keeping an eye
on the community
The negative aspects of the forthcoming Comprehensive Performance Assessment on Swindon Council I
by Audit Commission inspectors are likely to receive most attention, and too easily ignored will be I
results that show hope for the future. But can the management of the town improve signficantly using
a system dominated by political party considerations?
Reports issued by government back from local people. north east they have streamlined
inspectors have damned council However the report states that councils, reduced the number of ' -
officers, reduced the number
performance on education and so- councillor awareness of commu- chief officers, ^y
nity safety is low and work is re- of councillors, and cut their allow- _
cial services. Yet three services
have received 2 star (good) rat- quired to produce clear, pro- ances. They are beginning to get to
ings, though with reservations. grammed actions for the service's grips with budgets and are
The draft report into Commu- strategy. prioritising activities like crime re- •
nity Safety, which looks at the work Transportation is rated as 'a duction and street cleaning. With a ° _
of Wiltshire's six local authorities good service that has uncertain mandate direct from the electorate,
and the police to reduce crime, prospects for improvement'. The elected mayors can be more power-
fear of crime and anti-social be- inspectors were impressed by the ful than council leaders dependent
haviour and found 'a good service high level of public satisfaction re- on party support.
that has promising prospects for garding park and ride, well man- Perhaps this is the way of giving
improvement.' aged car parks, and good quality Swindon a more cohesive and well !
Specifically to Swindon Coun- school and social services transport. planned approach to the delivery Battered and unnoticed, a family
cil, inspectors praised the quality The Recreation Service too is of services, has watched silently over Toothill
and effectiveness of the crime and rated good, but with uncertain • Tragedy struck the council cham- Village Centre for two decades.
disorder team, which uses fund- prospects for improvement. 'The
ber on 30 August when audit com- The Watchers depicting a
ing in an innovative manner. service provides a wide range of mission inspector Gordon woman, man and child, plus dog,
Knowledge of the community is facilities, and these are generally Hainsworth was taken seriously was unveiled in June 1982 by the
good and partnership working is of a high standard'. ill with a heart attack whilst pre- late Swindon sculptor Carleton
effective, resulting in positive feed- Performance compares well senting councillors with the draft Attwood.
with other councils, in some re- report of the Comprehensive Per- I Commissioned byThamesdown
spects within the best 25`%% of uni- formance Assessment of council Community Arts, the work was
tary authorities. The service is well
_ .. activities. Sadly he later died. sponsored by village shop keepers
elcbratint{ 10 Ycars 1992 - 2002 used and satisfaction is above av- Deputy council leader coun RS McColl and local builders EH
erage. Staff are responsive to cus- David Cox said the whole council Bradley. The brass plate at the base
'WE COME TO YOU tomers and the standard of instruc- was saddened by the news. "Mr of the work was cast in the British
tion is high. There are good man-
AT HOME OR WORK' Hainsworth struck us as a positive Engineering works before it closed.
agement systems in place but the man, committed to helping local • West Swindon is a community
A * FREE inspectors feel that there is a need authorities improve. We convey says university researcher. See
° collection & deliver to update the service's aims which our condolences to his family." page 46.
do not clearly set out what the
Servicing & repairs
council wants achieved.
BIKE WE ALSO SELL They point out that several fa-
DOCTOR
• New cycles cilities are old and need major work
* Parts & accessories and acknowledge that users are
dissatisfied with cleanliness and
the speed that repairs are made.
In virtually every report on coun-
cil services the Audit Commission
highlights deficiencies in strategic
planning and cross-council co-or-
THE Need dination. Clear direction from the
COMPLETE curtains top has been lacking.
CURTAIN or blinds Council leader Sue Bates and
SERVICE made? Chief Executive Paul Docherty
have resigned, the former replaced
Design, making and complete by Kevin Small. But the structure
fitting serv ice available remains unaltered and the ques-
Large range of material samples
tion remains: can an organisation
Free estimating and advice
with a history of political divisions
Call Tracey or Amanda on give the clear lead required for the
01793 611051 development of services in the way
that the public wants?
r
.r Home Sew Curtai The Link has in the past advo-
cated that the Swindon electorate
100s of fabrics in stock be given the opportunity to decide
from £2.50/metre on having a directly elected, pol iti-
Heading from 25p/metre cally powerful mayor. This issue
Lining from £1.50/metre could be back on the agenda as the
Cushion pads from £2 each government has recently pub-
All types of rails _ r! lished a document about poor per-
forming councils.
Failing authorities maybe forced
Home visits arranged or to hold a referendum for an elected
mayor if the government conclude
this is the best way forward.
Elsewhere elected mayors, al-
though only in office since May,
have already had an impact. In the