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2016, the year to tidy up your town Swindon’s draft budget for 2016-17

Swindon Council has launched includes 1.94% council tax rise,
a new effort to give the town a with further 2% under consideration
makeover.
The ‘Love Your Swindon’ campaign After making savings of more than on growing the local economy to
aims to foster a greater sense of £100million in the past eight years generate new income, provide more
community pride and will eventually and freezing council tax for the preventative services to address
focus on reducing issues such as past five, Swindon Borough Council social care issues before they arise,
littering, dog fouling and anti-social is aiming for further savings of and help more people to take care
behaviour across the borough with £20million in the next financial year of themselves. This means:
the intention of promoting safer whilst raising council tax by 1.94 • street cleaning and libraries will
and cleaner neighbourhoods. per cent be delivered by parish councils and
The campaign was unveiled on The Chancellor announced in the community based organisations,
15 December to coincide with the Autumn Statement that councils giving local people a greater say
introduction of a Public Spaces could add an additional 2 per cent over the services they receive;
Protection Order (PSPO) in the town to pay for adult social care and this A Library Service Strategy is to
centre which is designed to ensure is still being considered. be developed which assumes a
Councillor David Renard and
that people can enjoy public spaces The draft budget identifies where reduction in council spend of at
without the threat of anti-social PCC Angus Macpherson £17.3million of cutbacks are to be least £1.5m, or 75 per cent, by
behaviour. launching Love Your Swindon made and work continues on finding 2020;
another £2.7million. • the council will continue to
West Forum launches litter campaign Swindon Council’s cabinet debated provide new roads, work to continue
Residents again raised the perennial problem of the rising amount of fast the proposals on Wednesday 9 to regenerate the town centre,
food rubbish littering the streets and cycle paths, at the West Swindon Fo- December with the final budget and attract new investment which
rum in early December. As a result schools are to be approched by Lydiard to be decided upon in February. A would enable the creation of
Park Academy Community Ambassadors to take part in a competition to six-week public consultation on the new homes and jobs to increase
design posters to be displayed in local shops. draft proposals will close at the end prosperity for those who live and
Residents are being asked to join local councillors and Street Smart staff of January. work in Swindon, and drive up
in a community clean-up on Wednesday 10 February. For details contact Among the savings being proposed funding for council services through
Gail Light: [email protected] are £4.5million within adult social council tax and business rates
Litter picking in pictures care through more efficient use of revenue;
West Swindon resident Moya Pinson is combatting the littering problem care packages, and the closure of • more elderly residents living
with a display of photographs in West Swindon library. the remaining five children’s centres independently at home and wth
They appear alongside shots of her 12-year-old grandson Elliot Pinson in favour of a mobile service that increased choice and control about
who is the current UK MiniGP70 Champion. targets help for those families most how they live and the type of care
The exhibition will be available to view until late January. in need. they receive. They will be advised on
Swindon Borough Council is the funding they will be entitled to
facing, in common with all councils, from the council, and what they will
reductions in government grants need to spend themselves;
combined with large increases in • the council will continue to work
demand for services for children and to ensure the needs of the most
young people and vulnerable elderly vulnerable children and young
Join your local hospice Lottery residents. Up to 2020, it must find people are met, and will develop
new ways to provide services
another £60million in addition to
Every week the £20million required for the such as supporting family-based
placements for children and
2016-17 budget.
targeted services in communities
As a result of these pressures, the
someone proposed budget signals that the instead of those based in specific
council will now prioritise its efforts locations.
wins £1,000 Blunsdon parish council to take on
wider range of services

www.prospect-hospice.net/lottery Blunsdon Parish Council, after result in quicker response to issues
a short consultation period,
raised by people living in our area
or call 01793 816190 to join has provisionally agreed with and a considerable improvement
Swindon Borough Council to take in the appearance of public areas
responsibility for grass cutting, in the parish. This year we took on
6 £1 hedge and tree pruning and street the 11 borough built play areas
cleaning, working in partnership
in the parish and this resulted in
with Haydon Wick Parish Council. many compliments and comments
The borough has run pilot projects regarding their improvement.
to play
3 with Haydon Wick, Wroughton “Regrettably, if we do not take
Prospect Hospice and Stratton St Margaret parish on services like hedge pruning and
councils to pass on services in order
Lottery 4 to reduce its cost burden as it seeks already poor standard of public
grass cutting, it is certain that the
to make savings of £60 million over
space maintenance will deteriorate
A chance to win, a way to care the next three years. as a result of borough cutbacks.”
Blunsdon parish chairman Ian
Should the whole of Swindon be
Jankinson said: “The council believes
Registered with the Gambling Commission parished? The big question for
Registered Charity Number: 280093 that expanding our services will 2016. See page 46 and 47
10 swindonlink.com n January 2016
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