We are off to a busy and exciting start to 2025 in Swindon, with a renewed focus on delivery this year.
As a Labour administration, we feel that we have made progress in changing the culture at the council and are looking to really demonstrate that new approach to residents as the year progresses.
Hopefully, you’ll see this through the delivery of big projects such as the Heart of Swindon plan for the town centre and the completion of a new youth centre for the town in Walcot due at Easter, but also the council completing smaller, everyday tasks more effectively and efficiently.
This was illustrated by the introduction of the new waste and recycling system where we haven’t seen the same challenges that we did last year. The hard work of Cllr Chris Watts and the Waste and Recycling team deserves praise, as they devised a new plan and, so far, have executed it really well.
The other big topic in the agenda at the moment is devolution. I was really pleased to see the Government’s Devolution White Paper, and the Labour party has a great track record in this area. Much of the country now has devolved powers – in essence more money and the decision-making ability that can deliver better outcomes for local residents, businesses and communities.
From London in the 1990s to devolution in Scotland and in Wales after 1997 followed by Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire and the East and West Midlands and more which all now have established Mayoral Combined Authorities. These places have significant powers and funding which residents in Swindon just don’t currently have access to.
As a result, people living in devolved areas have seen tangible results. From London’s integrated transport system to Greater Manchester’s recent announcement that it would maintain the single bus fare cap of £2, because they had the powers, investment and scale to do so. This is exactly the kind of regional decision making I think will benefit our region.
The Government’s new devolution framework will see even further powers given to new ‘Strategic Authorities’ including: a statutory responsibility for the rail network; the ability to charge developers a Mayoral Levy to ensure that new developments come with the necessary associated infrastructure; the necessary funding to deliver on housing ambitions and a strategic role in the delivery of the Great British Energy Local Power Plans, delivering local sustainable energy generation.
This is to name just a few of the powers that could benefit our region as well as the fundamental reform of public services which will see much more integration across local authorities, police and fire services and the NHS.
I want to be clear that this is about a new directly-elected Mayor sitting above the councils who have chosen to work together, not about us merging or joining other councils. Swindon will remain a unitary authority, with the vast majority of our responsibilities unchanged and most decisions being made by your Councillors in the Council Chamber.
The big decision that we need to make in Swindon is where do we see our future lying?
We have to work with areas that we are geographically linked with, so we have a choice of looking in two different directions as we determine where our future is. We can look South-West and join a partnership of Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire that they have called the Heart Of Wessex or look East and be part of an alliance between Oxfordshire and Berkshire, working with similarly ambitious towns and cities along the M4 corridor.
I’m keen to hear from residents about where they see the best opportunities for the town. Personally, I think that the growth agenda and the opportunity for us to build our economy and attract the best jobs to Swindon means that looking East is the best option.
I’m yet to be convinced that the large rural counties of Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire have much in common with the much more productive and dynamic Swindon economy, and many businesses seem to agree but we will be looking to hear from residents to understand their views.
It is important that remember that none of this changes our geography, we will still border the area that we don’t choose to join, and we will retain our links and the ability to work with them where it works for Swindon. We started the debate in the Council Chamber but are keen to hear from residents about where you see us best placed.
Hopefully, you’ll see this through the delivery of big projects such as the Heart of Swindon plan for the town centre and the completion of a new youth centre for the town in Walcot due at Easter, but also the council completing smaller, everyday tasks more effectively and efficiently.
This was illustrated by the introduction of the new waste and recycling system where we haven’t seen the same challenges that we did last year. The hard work of Cllr Chris Watts and the Waste and Recycling team deserves praise, as they devised a new plan and, so far, have executed it really well.
The other big topic in the agenda at the moment is devolution. I was really pleased to see the Government’s Devolution White Paper, and the Labour party has a great track record in this area. Much of the country now has devolved powers – in essence more money and the decision-making ability that can deliver better outcomes for local residents, businesses and communities.
From London in the 1990s to devolution in Scotland and in Wales after 1997 followed by Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire and the East and West Midlands and more which all now have established Mayoral Combined Authorities. These places have significant powers and funding which residents in Swindon just don’t currently have access to.
As a result, people living in devolved areas have seen tangible results. From London’s integrated transport system to Greater Manchester’s recent announcement that it would maintain the single bus fare cap of £2, because they had the powers, investment and scale to do so. This is exactly the kind of regional decision making I think will benefit our region.
The Government’s new devolution framework will see even further powers given to new ‘Strategic Authorities’ including: a statutory responsibility for the rail network; the ability to charge developers a Mayoral Levy to ensure that new developments come with the necessary associated infrastructure; the necessary funding to deliver on housing ambitions and a strategic role in the delivery of the Great British Energy Local Power Plans, delivering local sustainable energy generation.
This is to name just a few of the powers that could benefit our region as well as the fundamental reform of public services which will see much more integration across local authorities, police and fire services and the NHS.
I want to be clear that this is about a new directly-elected Mayor sitting above the councils who have chosen to work together, not about us merging or joining other councils. Swindon will remain a unitary authority, with the vast majority of our responsibilities unchanged and most decisions being made by your Councillors in the Council Chamber.
The big decision that we need to make in Swindon is where do we see our future lying?
We have to work with areas that we are geographically linked with, so we have a choice of looking in two different directions as we determine where our future is. We can look South-West and join a partnership of Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire that they have called the Heart Of Wessex or look East and be part of an alliance between Oxfordshire and Berkshire, working with similarly ambitious towns and cities along the M4 corridor.
I’m keen to hear from residents about where they see the best opportunities for the town. Personally, I think that the growth agenda and the opportunity for us to build our economy and attract the best jobs to Swindon means that looking East is the best option.
I’m yet to be convinced that the large rural counties of Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire have much in common with the much more productive and dynamic Swindon economy, and many businesses seem to agree but we will be looking to hear from residents to understand their views.
It is important that remember that none of this changes our geography, we will still border the area that we don’t choose to join, and we will retain our links and the ability to work with them where it works for Swindon. We started the debate in the Council Chamber but are keen to hear from residents about where you see us best placed.
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