Page 4 - link magazine

4 The virtual Link Magazine now online @ www.swindonlink.com

Two stars for Swindon - ten years
ELECTRIC GUITAR after getting back responsibilities
TUITION
April marks the tenth anniversary of Swindon Council becoming a
.. for those just unitary authority, taking back local government powers lost in a
beginning through reorganisation 23 years previously.
to advanced. Free legal advice in..
Wiltshire County Council had of whom was drafted in from Kent
I can teach you different WELFARE BENEFITS, administered Education and Social to sort things out, uncountable
styles including Rock, HOUSING, DEBT Services, as well as libraries and amounts of money has been spent
Heavy Metal & Blues youth work since 1974, whilst on external consultants and sev-
If you have problems in these
Qualified in Theory & areas, don’t suffer in silence Thamesdown Borough Council eral reorganisations have taken
Advanced Techniques looked after town planning, high- place. Swindon Council now has
We are here to help. Visit us at:
Learn from home, Temple House, ways, leisure and community de- some of the highest paid senior
I will travel to you! 115-118 Commercial Road, Swindon velopment. officers in the country.
Resentment grew as the town kept In February this year the council
Call 01793 486926, or email:
Telephone Dan on 07811 486527 expanding. Wiltshire saw Swindon was adjudged by inspectors in the
[email protected]
email: [email protected]
OPEN: Monday - Friday. 9am to 4pm as a drain on resources, particularly Comprehensive Performance As-
for new schools and Social Services, sessment (CPA) to be good enough
and objected to its growth at every to retain the two star status
turn. Swindon felt oppressed by po- awarded in 2005 for the overall
litical decision making taking place delivery of services.
far away in rural Trowbridge. Areas performing well are envi-
The new council launched with ronment (planning, waste and
a slogan ‘Proud to be Swindon’ transport) and leisure, resources
but in its first year Swindon had (financial management and value
£2.1 million less to spend on for money), culture (libraries,
schools than the last year under sports and leisure) and benefit al-
Wiltshire. Things just seemed to get location.
worse as the strains of switching The management of the housing
from being a successful, expanding, stock and liaison with tenants was
confident town, to one with major picked out for particular praise.
ambitions but without management Council leader Rod Bluh says
experience, and not enough money things will continue to get better.
to sustain major commitments like “This was the most thorough ex-
Education and Social Services. amination of the council to date.
Two ill considered bids for city To be described as having ‘under-
status followed. Ofsted failed the gone a radical transformation’ and
www.debt-assist.com council’s Education department making significant improvements
then the wheels really fell off in in key areas, yet still narrowly miss
2002 when Audit Commission in- out on a 3 star rating, shows just
spectors failed the Labour run how much harder the inspection
council on nearly everything and process has become.
rated it the thirteenth worst in the “The report shows that we have
country. a very good platform to build on,
Political control switched from La- but we don’t underestimate the
You can foster bour to Conservatives, a private challenge ahead in terms of keep-
company was brought in to run
ing pace with the majority of other
Education for three years, whilst councils who are also improving.
It’s one of the most rewarding Kent County Council assisted with “We are making progress in de-
getting Social Services back on track. livering better services and will
experiences you will ever have Over the ten years the council continue to put the customer at the
has had four Chief Executives, one heart of everything we do.”
What we offer

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“The Link was first published for the West
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Publisher/Editor: Roger Ogle
and, in fact, won a competition to name the
Editorial: Tel: (01793) 608840
leisure centre in 1984. Distribution in North
Swindon commenced in January 1994.”
Editorial copy date for May:
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Published: 28 April by copyright. Use of advertisements in
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1 April 07 4 16/3/07, 10:43 am