Page 7 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • March 2003 7
Area Panels: do they still exist, what are they and are they worth having?
The majority of people have littl e and removed their very limited relevant to the community. year the expanded panels, with
that councillors on Swindo n budgets. The number was also re- In March Nick Martin, who fewer meetings at the Civic, have
meet in public forums duced, so that, for example, the chairs the council's scrutiny com- not worked. They have ceased to
residents can listen to de distinct West Swindon panel was mission, will be proposing that be based on local communities and
bates about council policy an d combined with Penhill, Gorse Hill, Area Panels should be returned to have lost the few decision-making
their viewpoints. Western Ward and Moredon. pre-2002 boundaries and they powers they had. If they are to be
When they were set up in 2000, With no publicity and little pub- should be given more powers. an outlet for local democracy, they
there were six panels meeting lic attendance, the panels have be- He said the panels were first set must be changed."
every other month in local venues come a waste of taxpayers money. up to be a new form of public con- Nick suggests the council should
In May 2002 a Labour resolution Now a West Swindon council- sultation with question time a key take a radical step and give panels
reduced the number of meetin s for is bidding to make them more item on the agenda. "Clearly this real decision-making powers rel-
evant to their local area. "If resi-
Push out your chest for Swindon dents look at their council tax bill
they will note that in non-parished
Instead of returning from your holiday with a T-shirt emblazoned with memories of Tenerife or areas there is a charge known as
Disneyland, take to the beach this summer sporting a souvenir from your home town. the 'special rate.' This is to balance
the council tax levied by parish
Swindon's perennial Roly with Cathryn Gray wearing a one-off T-shirt printed "It's a great place
Monster Raving Loony with the Russian military map of Swindon that appeared for the people who councils in parished areas .
"Panels could be given author-
Party candidate Roly exclusively on the front page of the F ruary Link live here as well as ity over how this money is spent,
Gillard has opened a visitors. It's time we typically on things like grass cut-
unit in the covered took a closer look at ting and the maintenance of parks
market selling T-shirts, our surroundings and play areas. They could also
sweatshirts, posters, and recognise that have control over a share of the
mouse mats, mugs and there's a lot to shout
tea towels imprinted about." street cleaning and footpath main-
with images of the Roly is looking for tenance budgets. These matters
may seem trivial but in reality the
town. old and new images maintenance of our parks, play
Explaining the gap in of the town to in-
the market that he has crease the range of areas and the quality of litter pick-
ing and street cleaning has a huge
spotted, Roly said, "just items for sale. For impact on the happiness of the lo-
look around you, there details, call into the cal community."
is a wealth of history Little Print Shop in Recommendations from the
and heritage in and the market, or call Scrutiny Commission will be put
close to the town, plus Roly on 488765. He to the council's cabinet. If agreed
loads of striking mod- also prints one-off they would come into force in May.
ern architecture. unique gift items.

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