As Leader of the Reform UK Group on Swindon Borough Council, I am pleased to write my first column for the Link and share what our group is working to achieve for Swindon.
Our group consists of 13 councillors, and we want to use our position to provide a strong voice for residents, challenge decisions where necessary and put forward practical ideas of our own.
At the heart of our approach is a simple principle: Swindon Residents First.
We have set out 10 Priorities for Swindon, which will guide our work over the coming years.
We want to cut waste and keep Council costs down, making sure taxpayers' money is spent carefully and that frontline services are prioritised.
We want safer streets and communities, tackling antisocial behaviour and working with the Council, police and partners to address areas where residents do not feel safe.
We want to get Swindon moving, focusing on the condition of our roads, congestion, parking and transport decisions that affect residents and businesses every day.
We will back Swindon businesses, jobs and skills, supporting a strong local economy and helping Swindon remain a place where businesses want to invest and people can build successful careers.
We will also challenge the cost of Net Zero. Environmental policies should be sensible, affordable and provide clear benefits for residents. Where significant amounts of taxpayers' money are being spent, we will ask what it costs, what it achieves and whether residents are receiving value for money.
As Swindon continues to expand, we want growth with infrastructure. New housing developments must be supported by the roads, schools, healthcare and community facilities needed by the people who live there.
We want to support families, young people and opportunity, ensuring the next generation has the chance to learn, work and build a future here in Swindon.
We are also proud of Swindon, Britain and those who served, and believe our town should celebrate its history and recognise the contribution made by our Armed Forces and veterans.
Finally, we will work to protect frontline services and support the vulnerable, ensuring Council resources are focused on the services and people who need them most.
But these priorities must be about more than words.
We have already started putting them into action.
After residents and businesses raised concerns about the experimental changes to Commercial Road, Reform councillors went out and listened. We conducted our own residents' survey, which ultimately received more than 200 responses, and brought those concerns into the Council chamber.
Our motion on Commercial Road was passed by Full Council, ensuring the survey evidence would be considered as part of the review of the scheme and raising concerns around issues including parking and illegal pavement parking.
We have also successfully brought forward a motion to recognise Swindon's veterans and fallen service personnel through the naming of future roads and streets.
The idea came from a local resident who wanted those with connections to Swindon who served our country to receive greater recognition. We listened and took that idea to Full Council, where the motion was also passed.
Those are two very different issues, but they demonstrate how we want to operate: listen to residents, take their concerns seriously and turn good ideas into action.
We will not agree with every decision made at the Council, but neither will we oppose something simply because another political party proposed it. If something is good for Swindon, we will support it. If we believe residents deserve better, we will challenge it and put forward an alternative.
There is plenty more work ahead, and I look forward to using future columns to update residents on what our councillors are doing across Swindon.
Our commitment remains simple: national principles, local action – listening to residents and working for Swindon.
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