On Thursday 28th the council budget was set. The Labour Party put forward a number of amendments in order to protect community services, promote growth and provide the services residents have told us they need. I make no apology for introducing the Minister Mr Pickles to the debate I just wish instead a Conservative member who had brought him up. The massive cuts which have been transferred from Banks and others to the local council have led to many Conservative…
At Full Council on 21 February Nadine Watts, Ward Councillor for Old Town, supported Old Town residents views of the importance of the number 22 bus service. Nadine said "Bus number 22 is relied upon by many local residents in Old Town. Any proposed cuts to the bus subsidy would have an adverse effect on its users and in particular the elderly. It is also vital for the businesses in Old Town to be well served by public transport".
It is with great disappointment that I have to report that Swindon’s Conservative Councillors, backed up by Liberal Democrat Councillors on Swindon Council, voted against Labour’s alternative budget that would have ensured more potholes would have been fixed; more apprenticeships created; and would have prevented cuts to Dial a Ride, Children’s Centres and bus subsidies.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Dave Wood thwarted Swindon Borough Council aspirations to work towards introducing a Living Wage over and above the legal minimum wage. At February's Full Council meeting, Labour Cllr Mark Dempsey, put forward an amendment to the financial report to included a statement that the Council would aspire to introduce the Living Wage. On the night, the ruling Conservative group opposed this amendment but with a Labour / Lib Dem majority of one, this aspiration could have and should have been realised.
Swindon's Conservative Councillors, and Liberal Democrat Councillors Nicky Sewell (Eastcott) & Dave Wood (Eastcott) voted against Labour's budget amendment, with all local Liberal Democrat councillors voting for the Conservatives budget proposal. Labour's amendment included, amongst other things, cutting £17,000 budgeted by the council for refreshments & bottled water costs, £83,000 in training costs, and a combined saving of £263,000 through the re-structuring of senior management responsibilities within the council (£100,000) and a reduction in spending on consultants (£163,000)
“At the Council’s Budget Meeting on the 21st February, Swindon’s Labour Councillors will be moving a sensible amendment to the Conservative administration’s proposed budget, to protect frontline services like road surfacing and protecting services like Dial a Ride and bus services. We will do this by cutting senior management costs, consultants’ costs and the cost of Councillors. We don’t believe that it is right that the Council’s consultants budget increases while frontline services like social care, child protection, pothole filling and street cleaning…