Page 6 - link magazine

6 The Link Magazine • March 2003
Can Swindon make good use of tax payers money?
As The Link goes to press, Swindon's councillors will be debating a Labour Group proposal to raise council tax by 15% to improve services, which
would bring local taxes closer to those of neighbouring authorities. Last month's edition publicised the Stakeholder Workshop on Community
Strategy meeting in early February, which included discussions on next year's council budget. Swindon resident Chris Scott attended and gives
his impressions.
Perhaps Swindon Borough ciently and set council tax levels to or officers who must know that ought to redouble their efforts to
Council really is listening to coun- maintain proper services has con- taxpayers have little confidence in get a fair deal for Swindon people.
cil taxpayers, perhaps they aren't, tributed directly, together with their performance. Some common A tiny amount of progress has been
who knows? poor leadership and poor manage- sense input from the community is made but they need to try harder.
A good turn out at the work- ment, to unacceptable performance needed. But maybe we are begin- There are many demands for lim-
shop gave councillors and officers in Education and Social Services, ning to see the first signs of that. ited national resources but Swin-
plenty of feed back before setting which resulted in an overall 'poor' Sometimes by not spending don competes on a playing field
their plans for the next five years assessment of council performance enough at the right time and at the which is uphill all the way. Com-
and in particular next year's by the Audit Commission. right quality we store up trouble parisons with other areas show that
budget. Proof that the workshop Council expenditure should be for the future - Swindon Council's Swindon receives inadequate fund-
'worked' will be when budget de- examined very carefully before performance until a few months ing in all but a few cases.
cisions reflect views expressed. increases are even suggested - not ago is a classic example of this. But I hope that Swindon Council will
Past reluctance to spend effi- looked into solely by councillors that is not the whole story. • take on board the issues raised
What may not be generally ap- at the Stakeholder Workshop;
What would a 15% increase buy? preciated is that Swindon collects • examine in detail every aspect
£78 million of non- domestic rates of reducing expenditure and in-
A council tax increase of 12.9% is needed to maintain current levels of (equivalent of business council tax) creasing income with, importantly,
service. The Labour proposal to raise it by 15% from 1 April would which has to be handed over to input from lay people; after all they
provide additional money for education and social services, extend Central Government. have to pay for each and every bad
kerbside recycling, improve street cleaning, repair more pavements Central Government then re- decision taken;
and deal with the problem of abandoned cars. turns only £56 million as a contri- • make better use of the voluntary
Also included is debt repayment on a proposed £16 million central
library and development of the old railway museum as an art gallery. bution towards SBC funding. sector, particularly in Social Serv-
Swindon is, I believe, short- ices, by increasing grants to vol-
changed by over £20 million, cash untary organisations which can
which could solve most of our cur-
and do deliver the services needed
1)12 /4 amc4 uie fiably keep the rate of council tax in a much more efficient way than
rent funding difficulties and justi-
the council; a first step to pain-
tC acs 20 yecviJ- a 'ftee#tee at acceptable levels. Swindon lessly reducing Swindon's huge
needs that cash as well as a fairer staffing costs.
assessment of its needs by faceless Can we begin to hope that Swin-
unaccountable mandarins in don will be fairly treated and that
Whitehall. our council will treat its residents
Some Swindon people on fixed fairly? After all, a 43% increase in
Windows, Doors incomes and state benefits do not councillors' allowances announced
& Conservatories share in Swindon's affluence and in February is around fifteen times
little account is taken by Central the rate of inflation - is that fair?
PVCu, Hardwood,
Government of this situation. Liv- Maybe all councillors should
Aluminium = ing costs are the same for pensioners stand down in May, present them-
and others on low incomes as any- selves for re-election and let the
Primary & NMI
one else who resides in Swindon. public determine their fitness to
Secondary Glazing '" 1 11.1> Swindon's MPs and all council- continue. A lovely thought but
lors regardless of political party would they have the courage?
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