Page 7 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • April 2004 7
Swindon's voluntary and arts groups saved by political alliance, not luck
A combination of Labour and Liberal Democrats voting together at Swindon's full council meeting in February defeated a Conservative proposal
to increase this year's council tax by 6.5 per cent which would have resulted in massive reductions in grants to voluntary organisations and arts
groups in the town.
Their alternative budget increasing council tax by 7.3 per cent- or 70p a month on the average Band D property- ensured their survival. However,
Freshbrook Liberal Democrat coun Judith Peppitt took exception to our headline over the story in the March Link and explains why.
The March edition of of Swindon want the • looking after our environment; * On 17 March the Conservative
The Link contained a Borough Council to • working to achieve equality and run Cabinet agreed to undertake
celebratory article act in this fashion. Lo- social inclusion; another investigation into setting
about the continua- cal government • maintaining a strong up longterm assured funding con-
tion of the West Swin- should act as an local economy. tracts with voluntary and arts
don Family and Com- agency that celebrates Nobody I have spoken to likes groups to remove the annual un-
munity Project grant the thriving, energetic paying tax. But for an extra £8 a certainty that many face.
under a headline: non-statutory sector year from every household the La- Jo Osorio, director of Age Con-
'Saved more by luck in providing care and bour/Lib Dem budget will see cern Swindon, welcomed the pro-
than judgement.' advice. important voluntary sector and posal providing that levels of grant
If the Conservative- The Labour/Lib arts organisations survive for an- funding are realistic, in order to
run council had had Dem joint budget other year. meet the agreed targets.
their way, this project stopped Conservative
would have closed. proposals decimating Caught in a game of percentages
But it was not just our local family the voluntary sector in Swindon. The annual round of wrestling over council budgets and tax increases
centre under threat. The Conservative budget would is over, unless the Government steps in and blocks the 7.3 per cent
Reach Inclusive Arts was saved have increased local taxes by 6.3`I increase agreed by councillors. But let's be straight. Swindon does
— a group that helps disabled peo- but would have cut £250,000 from not have excessive council tax compared to neighbouring areas.
ple broaden their communication voluntary groups in the town. Because no one party has a clear majority in Swindon, setting council
skills, build their confidence and At a September 2003 Cabinet the tax is a political game where every year the Conservatives put forward
helps them live without fear of Conservatives threw out a pro- a low tax proposal likely to result in big cuts in grants and Labour and
prejudice in our communities. posal to secure three year funding LibDems go the other way to maintain the work of voluntary and arts
Swindon has the highest rate of of the voluntary sector through groups. Accusations then flow fast and furious at the following local
teenage pregnancies in the Coun- Grant Aid. This had been put for- elections in the hope of achieving overall control of the council.
try. A group called Home Start is ward by an all-party group which Percentage rises can look big, but when applied to low figures the
funded through the grant process met throughout 2003 to decide the total is not a lot. Even with the 37 per cent tax increases imposed on
to support these and other fami- future of grant-aid funding. Strict Swindon residents over the last three years, tax levels here are lower
lies. Their funding would have criteria for allocating grants in- compared to neighbouring authorities. In 2004 a band D property in
been slashed. cluded: Swindon will be £1,130. In North Wilts it will be £1,150 and in West
I do not believe the good people • addressing lifelong learning; Oxfordshire it was £1,154.

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