Page 5 - link magazine

The virtual Link Magazine now online @ www.swindonlink.com 5

‘Community’ to make comeback
The Government’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment report
on Swindon Council comments that more has to be done to engage
people in the decision making process and council leader Rod Bluh
says this is the next challenge.
Reflecting on the years of drift, country. Swindon Council has
uncertainty and inadequate politi- changed and is more clearly ac-
cal management of council affairs- countable through the 50 promises
illustrated by verbal mud slinging we made a couple of years ago.
in the council chamber and an abid- “The Local Area Agreement
ing cynicism by the population brings together the police, health
about council performance - coun authority and voluntary organisa-
Bluh believes that the next step is tions; there is a great sense of want-
about to be taken. ing to make a difference in the
“All councils are faced with find- delivery of services.”
ing ways to overcome mistrust and He said the council is now look-
new ways to work with the peo- ing at how this can be applied at a
ple,” he said. “Our aim is to be- community level by dividing the
come one of the best councils in the town up and starting neighbour-
hood management teams
Coun Bluh, with a new model of The Taber- dedicated to coordinating
nacle frontage which will be incorporated in the how services get to people.
town centre regeneration “The majority will agree on
the issues that affect us all -
tackling anti-social behav-
iour, good education, having
a safe and clean environment,
climate change. But we need
residents talking about them
with their local ward council-
lors and officers and looking
at how particular problems
in their areas are tackled.
“I would encourage every-
body to participate in what-
ever meetings are planned.”
• Community minded police -
see page 33

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1 April 07 5 15/3/07, 2:17 pm