Swindon Labour Group Leader Jim Grant Responds to Budget Proposals

Given the cost of living challenges many Swindon families are facing, particularly low paid families, I support the proposed Council-Tax freeze. However moving forward the Council does need to consider whether continuing to freeze council-tax year after year is sustainable. 

Responding to the Swindon Council Budget Proposals from the Cabinet, the Labour Group Leader, Councillor Jim Grant, said: 

The government’s abolition of the Emergency Assistance fund is a cruel and callous move

“Given the cost of living challenges many Swindon families are facing, particularly low paid families, I support the proposed Council-Tax freeze. However moving forward the Council does need to consider whether continuing to freeze council-tax year after year is sustainable. We have already seen services for residents cut back to such an extent that neighbourhoods are not as clean and tidy as they once were. And without the necessary money available, these service cutbacks will only increase.

Also, I think the government’s abolition of the Emergency Assistance fund is a cruel and callous move. This fund is designed as the last lifeline for people who have fallen on severe hard times as a result of the government’s big welfare cuts over the last 5 years. For example some of this fund is used to help pay for foodbank services. The Conservative Group have said they are seeking to persuade the government to reverse this welfare cut and change their minds on this and we hope they are successful. However if they are not, I feel the Council will need to do something to mitigate the effects of this callous cut to the Emergency Assistance Fund.”