The Council budget debate in February demonstrated just how far apart residents priorities and those of the Conservative administration now are.
Despite receiving new money (over £800,000 for each of the next two years) from their own government, specifically aimed to mitigate cuts to front line services, Swindon is now the testing ground for just how far services can be cut and outsourced. All Children's Centres to go, all but the main Central library under threat, and other budgets for road repairs and transport being reduced.
The Council budget debate in February demonstrated just how far apart residents priorities and those of the Conservative administration now are.
Despite receiving new money (over £800,000 for each of the next two years) from their own government, specifically aimed to mitigate cuts to front line services, Swindon is now the testing ground for just how far services can be cut and outsourced. All Children's Centres to go, all but the main Central library under threat, and other budgets for road repairs and transport being reduced.
Labour proposed a different budget, with no further council tax rise, reflecting the priorities of local residents.
We now know cuts are a choice and the question must now be why can Swindon not retain services that even other Conservative councils are keeping. Have the local Conservatives got no ideas or capacity to keep Swindon at least in line with other towns or is the drive to offload everything a political choice you can not afford.
New tax increases to pay twice for services, alongside rising council debt and disappearing facilities, is no way to run our council.