07/02/05 - Labour MP Confused Over Figures

Letter submitted to the Evening Advertiser 07/02/05

I was both saddened and astonished by our MP- Michael Wills letter in the Evening Advertiser of 5^th. February. Labour has poured money into the town it says, but what are the facts? The Rate Support Grant from Central Government is now 6% less than it was in 1997, which means that Swindon Borough Council now needs to find an extra £11m in order to stand still, and £11m is equivalent to about 18% of Council Tax.

Mr. Wills goes on to enquire why years after the Conservative Group promised to transform the performance of Swindon Borough Council it remains one of the worst (Councils) in the country. Perhaps Mr. Wills would do well to keep in touch with local events for there has only been a majority Conservative administration for the last 7 months of the preceding 25 years.  This new Conservative administration proposes to increase Council Tax for 2005/06 by a mere 3%, the lowest increase since Swindon became a unitary authority in 1996.  Last year in February 2004 a compact of Labour and Liberal councillors voted the 2004/2005 Council Tax rise of 7.5%. Perhaps Mr. Wills should visit the town more often.

Councillor Owen Lister
Abbey Meads