Page 4 - link magazine

4 The Link Magazine • January 2003
Dysfunctional council + democratic deficit = Swindon
Where has it all gone wrong? The high hopes for an effective borough council in 1997 when Swindon took back local government
responsibilities, in particular Education and Social Services, have turned into a disaster. The stark reality is laid bare in a closely worded
report by the Audit Commission published in December, which presents a damning picture of the council's corporate management.
The Commission the council is not that the corporate centre is 'almost Theinspec-
awarded the coun- clear in what it is non-existent' which leads to a frag- tors pointed
cil one mark out of trying to achieve. mented approach with individual outthataudi-
four, describing it as Its ambitions are departments dealing with differ- tors in the
very weak with few 'largely aspirational ent plans and with no framework past have
or no identifiable and lack clear tar- for integration. The council's abil- drawn atten -•-^"
strengths. In all nine gets' and there is ity to focus on its priorities, it is tion to low
of the Commis- no long term or suggested, is limited by the short- levels of
sion's selected cri- medium plan in age of skills and people at the cor- council tax
teria, the council was place. ' Partly as a porate centre. and reserves. Mike Bowden,
rated very weak or result of this lack of In the last 15 months the Chief It blames the Conservative leader;
fairly weak. clarity, the council Executive and Directors of Educa- depletion of leader of the council
rom September
After taking ac- has no track record tion and Social Services have re- the corporate f
count of its previ- of sustained focus. signed, as has the council leader. sector on ear- 2001 to May 2002
ously published Sue Bates, Swindon Council Whilst the council Much blame for the shortcom- lier financial restraints.
verdicts on specific leader from 1997 to September has some success in ings is placed at the door of the All three political parties can be
services like Educa- 2001, and from May 2002 identifying issues political set up where no party has blamed for restricting the level of
tion and Social until August when she resigned and providing sound had overall control, at the same council tax since unitary authority
Services, both of for personal reasons initial analysis, at- time as a new cabinet system was status was granted in 1997. It has
which, like some others, were rated tention too readily moves to another being introduced. 'This means that to be said that tax payers, when
poor with little hope of immediate perceived problem and attention to much attention has been concentrated consulted, have favoured a mini-
improvement, the Commission as- the first one lapses.' inwardly on political processes rather mum rise.
sessed the council's overall per- The inspectors found that inter- than directed on service delivery.' A standstill budget for next year
formance as poor. nal and external communications 'This concentration on issues which is likely to require an 11% increase:
This national review of local are poor and this does not help divides the parties albeit in a minority a higher increase 'to strengthen
government ranked all 150 county either staff or the community to of areas, inhibits joint working and the corporate centre' without ad-
and unitary councils. Swindon is understand the direction of the focus on the many important areas on equate explanation is unlikely to
one of the worst 13 performing in council. which there is agreement.' be a popular option.
the country. It may surprise many people that Although operating without a The recommendations rely on
According to James Strachan, the Commission claims that there clear majority in recent years, the the ability of the existing organisa-
Audit Commission chairman, 'The are not enough bu- Labour Party has been tion to pull its socks up, when the
council lacks robust plans to improve reaucrats in place. in control of the coun- Commission itself recognises that
- which is something the Commission 'Leadership and man- cil for the last 24 years, inter-party cooperation is 'fragile'.
and other inspectorates will be work- agement within the apart for eight months Outside expertise in the form of
ing with the council on in the next few council sufferfrom un- between September Tony Allen as Improvement Man-
months'. der-investment in the 2001 and May 2002 ager and other advisors from the
As the largest employer in the corporate centre, re- when the Conserva- Office of the Deputy Prime Minis-
area, with some 8,000 staff, an an- sulting in an ineffec- tives took over. La- ter are now working with senior
nual revenue budget exceeding tive management team bour had stepped staff, while the council has to an-
£158 million and planned capital and insufficient people down after a vote of no swer to an interim board set up in
spending in the region of £38 mil- at the centre to provide confidence following cooperation with ODPM to moni-
lion, that it lacks coherent and ef- the necessary support the dreadful Ofsted tor council progress to improve-
fective planning and prioritising to senior manage- report on the Educa- ment.
must be of great concern. ment'. Present Labour council leader tion Department. The Audit Commission inspec-
The Commission believes that The report states Kevin Small, Swindon's Councillors' behav- tors did not deal with problems in
third leader in the last year
iour towards officers the political structure. For exam-
is criticised 'including threats to of- ple, annual elections can result in
ficers' continuing employment'. The political control changing each
report recognises that there is a year and anticipation of change
a=i large number of hard working and can be an excuse for postponing
The Link Mag ne well-motivated staff and some ef- decisions. It can be no coincidence
fective and experienced second that county councils are the best
Published by
and third tier managers. However performing category of local au-
Swindon Publications Ltd. councillors and Directors have not thority with 72% rated good or
Papermakers House, Westlea
found an organisational means of excellent: all such councils are
Swindon SN5 7BD
tapping their potential, energy and elected for a four year term.
Tel: (01793) 872282 experience. For the present however the
Fax: (01793) 878189 The Link was first published for the West In the light of the serious situa- Commission concludes that Swin-
e: [email protected] Swindon community in December 1978. tion facing the council, party po- don is only just beginning to tackle
It is completely independent of Link Centre litical leaders are encouraged to long-standing and serious weak-
www.swindonlink.com
and, in fact, won a competition to name the I', cooperate more effectively. nesses. 'Whilst the council has started
Publisher/Editor: Roger Ogle leisure centre in 1984. Distribution in North The Commission makes several to address these issues, progress is at
Editorial: Tel: (01793) 872282 Swindon commenced in January 1994." recommendations to improve serv- present limited and it is unlikely that
ices and contribute to improving the public would recognise the im-
The contents of The Link are protected
the quality of life for Swindon peo- provements made'.
by copyright. Use of advertisements in
printed or electronic form is forbidden' ple. Most revolve around drawing
To read the full report, go to
unless an advertiser or publisher has up plans and procedures for moni-
sought permission. Articles and photo- toring performance, strengthening www.councilperformance.gov.uk
' graphs require similar authority senior management and consulta- • Education aims to make the grade
Registered in England & Wales- Nc. 4513027. Registered Office-130 High Street, Hungerford Barks RG17 ODL Printed by pep, Telford tion procedures. in 2003 - page 14.