Page 2 - link magazine

2 The Link Magazine • January 2004

1411,,1 Charles Lucas 'Poor' rated council promises
PRIVATE & Marshall
hcd
^ F_staG(i; orer10 ears ^ ' big performance changes in 04
WE COME TO YOU /^ Although the Audit Commission still rates Swindon Council as a
poor local authority and one of the worst in the country, council
AT HOME OR WORK'
leader Mike Bawden has pledged that the picture will be very
* FREE different in a year's time.
We're on collection & deliver Y The Government's measure of
/r ,t Servicing & repairs how councils are doing - the Com-
prehensive Performance Assess-
BIKE WE ALSO SELL
DOCTOR ment based on a wide range of
side * New cycles indicators and inspections of coup- 1
* Parts & accessories cilservices-continuestoputSwin-
don in the pits. In the last year the
assessment says it has not pro-
For experienced, practical help call
Swindon 511055 s,, ,oqs gressed from the 1 out of 4 ranking
for the way it is run. In terms of
overall service performance it gets
2outof4.
However, the report recognises
that change is afoot and says, 'Over
COMP TEE CURTAIN the last year the Swindon Borough \ 1m. ^. q
Council has appointed a new chief
SERVICE executive, restructured its depart- Mike Bawden, expecting to report
improvements in 2004
ments and appointed some new
CURTAINS FABRICS directors. It has begun to address stabilise the council and we are
• Free estimating, design and • Poles & curtain tracks weaknesses in its corporate sys- starting to move forward," said
advice 100s of stock fabrics from £1/metre tems, such as how it manages its coun Bawden referring to the ap-
• Make-up service Lining from £1.50/metre performance and its staff. pointment of Simon Birch as Chief
Executive and a new Social Serv-
'Some of the council's services
• Blinds, pelmets, swags & tails Headings from 40p/metre have not delivered significant im- ices management team, as well as
• Rail fitting service Cushion inners from £2 each provements, for example social senior appointments in other di-
• Home visits by appointment 100s of trims from 75p/metre services, and revenues and ben- rectorates in the next two months.
• Rails & boards made-up All accessories & holdbacks available efits. But this is because the coun- "Education is out of intensive
VISIT OUR NEW SHOWROOM at 252 CRICKLADE RD cil has concentrated on improving care and improving; Social Serv-
its internal management arrange- ices is now our number one prior-
or call Tracey or Amanda on 01793 611051
ments and putting in place meas- ity and we hope to have a three
ures to deliver better services. year recovery plan in place by the
'Swindon Borough Council end of January.
needs to maintain its commitment "We are not in denial of the is-
to change, continue to address its sues we face and are determined
BURD. weaknesses and then focus on is- to tackle them. We have the corpo-
rate management in place and 2004
sues that will impact on its com-
munity before there can be any will be a year of improvement."
real improvement in the services it He added that he expects the
160 County Road, Swindon provides to local people. The coun- council to achieve a much better
cil has put plans in place to do this rating in next December's CPA re-
Tel: 01793 529050 andwewillbemonitoringprogress port which will reflect improved
over the next 12 months.' performance throughout the coun-
a a^ the leadership after May's local cilfromseniormanagementdown.
Coun Bawden, who took over
elections, would not comment on ,
the responsibilities of his immedi- Looking for Swindon S
Bosch 1000 spin washing machine: Save £50. Now £279.99 ate predecessors coun Sue Bates sporting citizen
and coun Kevin Small, or the work Do you know somebody who
Bosch condenser drier: Save £20. Now £379.99 of former Chief Executive Paul is doing something special for
Docherty.Hesaidthereportwasa sport in Swindon - as an indi-
Seimans built-in oven, black (1 only): Save £160.00. snapshot of the council's perform- vidual representing the town,
ance and relied on data which was or by making a difference for
Now £469.99
now out of date. others?
He acknowledged there were The Mayorcoun DerekBenfield
Leisure built-in stainless steel oven: Save £60.00.
still considerable improvements to said is looking for nominations
Now £469.99 be made in the delivery of social fortheCitizenAwardsinthesport-
services but celebrated the recov- ing category.
Zanussi silver retro fridge freezer: Save £110. Now £489.99 cry of the Education Department The closing date for nomina-
since private company Tribal took tions is Thursday 8 January. The
Bosch fridge freezer, 55 wide: Save £50. Now £249.99 on the contract to run the local winner of the award will be pre-
education authority in partnership sented with a certificate at the full
Panasonic VCR/DVD/CD player: Save £50. Now £229.99 with Swindon. council meeting on Thursday 15
A report by Ofsted in September January.
Panasonic, Philips, Hitachi, CTV's, VCRs gave education a 4, up from the For details on how to make a
failure rating of 7 in 2001. nomination, contact the mayor's
"lam disappointed that we still secretary at the Civic Offices. Eu-
find ourselves seen as a poor au- clid Street, Swindon, SN1 2JH or
thority, but we have worked to mail: [email protected]