Page 8 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • January 2005

Curtains & Pelm Swindon elevated from weak' to poor'
•Curtains are hand-stitched Good status promised for 2006
at sides and hems.
Swindon Council is getting better according to Government inspectors - but not fast enough.
°City & Guilds qualified
In the Audit Commission's an- but child protection is still an
•
Goblets / triple pleat
nualComprehensivePerformance area of concern. The benefits
headings, hand made
Assessment (CPA) of how the service is still poor and the
'Swags & tails, tailor made
council is run and how main serv- council needs to tackle this ur-
Tie-backs • Roman blinds ices perform, the authority is up- gently.
graded from the lowest rating of The education services,
Pelmets • Valances
poor to weak. which is run by a private com-
•Free home visiting service
I A year ago Swindon was one of pany in partnership with the
'100% cotton sateen lining
the worst 15 councils in England; council, receive a good grad-
Tracking & pelmets installed now only one in England is left in ing by the inspectors, as do the
the poor category. libraries and leisure services
Call Pat on
01793 695862 or 07760 197510 Services for elderly, mentally and the way the council uses
[email protected] o.uk infirm people and care services for resources.
people at home have improved, The inspectors graded pro-
vision of social care for adults Simon Birch and council leaderMike Bawden
as average but social care for
children has become worse. The end of Year 1 in our recovery plan.
environment is seen as average. "Swindon Council still has many
A year ago council leader Mike
rAecwt 9c ry. Bawden said he expected consid- problems to tackle and challenges
to be dealt with, but our target for
erable change during 2004. In De- December 2005 is to achieve the
London trained mobile hair stylist cember he declared he was de- 'fair' category, and to be rated
For a visit call Sue on 07796 432 700 lighted that Swindon Council had 'good' at the end of 2006."
or email [email protected] ' climbed out of the poor category. Council chief executive Simon
"Some people might not consider Birch agreed there is still a long
this an achievement but we have way to go. "The CPA confirms that
made progress from a very poor we are on the road to recovery. We
our superb showrooms in assessment. need to speed up the pace at which
indon - finest in the area "The management of the coun- we are improving and will be do-
cil is being completely reorgan- ing this throughout the next year.
ised and we are striving for greater See the full assessment report at
IPLAN
and more rapid change. This is the
www.audit-commission.gov.uk
Growing ever bigger and bigger
er
MANUFACTURERS, RETAILERS & INSTALLERS
OF FINE HANDMADE KITCHENS Swindon area could be allocated more houses than
Western & Northern expansion combined
How could Swindon and the sur- traditionally buoyant economy
rounding area cope with another Swindon has been identified as one
24,000 houses - in addition to the of these sub-regions.
Northern development, Front The proposed 24,000 houses are
Garden and Coate Water? extra to the last 1,350 houses to be
The South West Regional As- built as part of the Swindon and
sembly (SWRA) is looking at the Wiltshire Structure Plan to 2016.
town as a 'sustainable area for fu- Where could all those houses go,
ture growth' up to 2026 and plan- as well as employment and com-
ners at Swindon and Wiltshire mercial areas, open space and
County Councils are jointly study- places for leisure and recreation?
ing how many houses could be These are some of the venues
built and are gathering the views where you can find out:
of the public until 18 February 2005.
Town Hall, Cricklade
Open:
FGR1 , 1N111 , DCE RETAIL PARR The study area covers all of Swin- Tuesday 4 January, 2.30 - 7.30pm;
Mon-Fri loam-5.30pm don Borough plus parts of Cots-
RAKESWAM • Saturday & Bank Holidays Memorial Hall, Wootton Bassett
10.30am-4.30pm wold, Kennet, North Wiltshire and Tuesday 11 January. 2.30 - 7.30pm;
Vale of White Horse Districts.

Sunday Ilam-3pm Changes to the planning system Brunel Centre, Swindon
Swindons award winning kitchen rorn/ aoy. Thursday 13 January, 9.30 am - 5pm;
Manor- Cabine s: A Sunday Tinges/Virgin" require the SWRA to review plan-
RUGBY CLUB Community Centre, Coleview
N
Atlantir /a.s1G"ack 100 (.ompanv ning guidance for the whole of the
South West up to 2026 and to pro- Wednesday 19 January, 4.30-7.30pm;
Tel: (01793) 423478 duce this Regional Spatial Strat- Tuesday 25 January, 2 - 8pm;
Bowls Pavilion, Purton
egy. This will play a key role in
guiding future development of Ellendune Centre, Wroughton
Manor Cabinets Plc Kelvin Road, Wednesday 26 January, 2.30 - 7.30pm;
Greenbridge Industrial Estate, Swindon SN3 3JW Swindon and the surrounding
towns and villages. Primary School, Chiseldon
Also branches at Basingstoke, Farnham, An important part of the Spatial Thursday 27 January, 3 - 8pm;
Henley, Reading, Thatcham, Wimborne, a ^^ Strategy is the identification of sub- Parish Council Offices. Haydon Wick
Windlesham and Wokingham regions, considered to be the most Tuesday 1 February, 3.30 - 7.30pm;
_. i Hf O^M.B:DFOOM.
ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS, s,cc A,50eITiv11 sustainable locations to accommo- For details, contact Mark Newey on
INTERIOR DESIGNERS- date future growth. Because of its
ALL TRADE ENQUIRIES WELCOME Setting the Standards 466031 or mail: structureplan
location, good transport links and @swindon.gov.uk