Page 7 - link magazine

Community News

Council compromises on parishing
boundaries

Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet asked to take on services such as
approved the final plans for the grass cutting and street cleaning,
town’s new parishing boundaries at which could expand to include
their meeting in October. management of community centres
They were modified after and libraries.
a consulation. Critics have £3 million of resources are to
consistently argued against be made available to these new
changes to specific boundaries authorities to act as transitional
between areas of Swindon and funding, although increases to
the financial implications of the precepts will probably still be a key
council parishing proposals. financial talking point.
The latest version of maps show One of the main concerns in
the South Swindon area proposed August was that the Central South
in August has been scrapped in Swindon parish would incur a much
favour of a much larger Central higher precept due to maintenance
South Swindon parish covering of the retail centres in the area. The
six ward areas; Old Town, Central, council had been in talks with local
Eastcott, Park South and joint business representatives in the
wards of Walcot and Park North town centre to secure a voluntary
as well as Lawn and Badbury Park. contribution of £400,000 to offset
This means only three new parishes a potentially higher parish precept The boundaries for Swindon’s new parishes
are now planned for Swindon, with cost, but it appears this could not
one large parish covering all areas be agreed. This will be followed the month l The future of Swindon’s libraries
south of the railway line. As such it has been proposed after with elections for parish will now be decided in December.
Nythe parish will still be asked that Swindon Borough Council council members, which will be The Save Swindon’s Libraries group
to take on the areas of Eldene and maintains its contract in the town distributed as 15 councillors for will be taking part in a national
Liden, whilst Blunsdon St Andrew centre for maintenance. the West Swindon parish, 15 for demonstration in London on 5
parish will be split to form a new The council still have to approve Central North Swindon and 23 for November.
St Andrew Parish Council and existing borough councillors to be the larger Central South Swindon The Save Park Library campaign
Blunsdon Parish Council. appointed to run the new shadow parish. petition has collected over 1100
As Swindon Borough Council parish councils which will be The report will now be put before signatures and will be debated by
seeks to reduce their costs by actively taking on services from 1 full council on 10 November. See cabinet in November.
2020, parish councils will be April 2017. updates on www.swindonlink.com. /saveswindonslibraries

swindonlink.com n November 2016 7

SE November 2016 Master Pages2.indd 7 21/10/2016 11:05