All year round they say one thing and yet do another, all year round they fail to deliver on their promises, and all year round they have supported the Tories by failing to oppose Tory policies. ALL YEAR ROUND THEY SAY ONE THING AND YET DO ANOTHER Residents Parking – Lib Dems say your parking will be £10 cheaper but fail to tell you that that is only if 60% of residents sign-up to pay online. Green waste – Lib…
Following the Swindon Labour Group highlighting the Liberal Democrat Councillors poor attendance record in the last Municipal Year (from May 2012 to May 2013), Swindon Council’s website shows that Lib Dem Councillor, Dave Wood, has continued to not attend Council Meetings, with him being the only Swindon Councillor since May this year that has failed to attend even one council meeting he was expected to attend.
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)