Public's views sought on planned cuts to budget (From Swindon Advertiser)

Cut councillors allowances, they shouldn't receive wages for what is supposed to be a voluntary services.

No doubt some councillor will come on here to say they are only covering costs but that is nonsense. They pay tax and NI, which makes it wages.

Hard and fast!

""""We are doing our utmost to protect the vital services to the vulnerable in our society, and I urge people to look at what we are proposing and let us know their views.” ""

Does anyone know what the term "vulnerable" actually covers and who decides it? It is such a general term, it would be intersting to know who exactly the Council consider as vulnerable and what services they will be providing for them.

I believe in public services, however at a time when we can barely afford them, it is important to focus public services to those that need it the most.
Libraries, council funding to Arts, sports, transport, entertainment etc should be scrapped immediately.

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:
I believe in public services, however at a time when we can barely afford them, it is important to focus public services to those that need it the most.
Libraries, council funding to Arts, sports, transport, entertainment etc should be scrapped immediately.

Don't forget to add immigrants to the list - they shouldn't receive a penny from the council in any shape or form.

Always Grumpy wrote:

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:
I believe in public services, however at a time when we can barely afford them, it is important to focus public services to those that need it the most.
Libraries, council funding to Arts, sports, transport, entertainment etc should be scrapped immediately.

Don't forget to add immigrants to the list - they shouldn't receive a penny from the council in any shape or form.

That is your opinion and I respect it but it is in my view it is very wrong to tar immigrants with the same brush.
Stereotyping immigrants is not very smart. .
Mr Bluh comes from a family of Austrian immigrants.

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:
I believe in public services, however at a time when we can barely afford them, it is important to focus public services to those that need it the most.
Libraries, council funding to Arts, sports, transport, entertainment etc should be scrapped immediately.

No they shouldn't. Libraries in particular should be encouraged and play a vital part in kids development.

Davey Gravey wrote:

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:
I believe in public services, however at a time when we can barely afford them, it is important to focus public services to those that need it the most.
Libraries, council funding to Arts, sports, transport, entertainment etc should be scrapped immediately.

No they shouldn't. Libraries in particular should be encouraged and play a vital part in kids development.

I believe in Arts, Culture, Sports and Libraries, but we cannot afford them....
Kids development should be encouraged by parents and schools, not the public purse, when there is very little money to be spared.
I would love to splash public money here and there, but these times are over.

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:

Davey Gravey wrote:

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:
I believe in public services, however at a time when we can barely afford them, it is important to focus public services to those that need it the most.
Libraries, council funding to Arts, sports, transport, entertainment etc should be scrapped immediately.

No they shouldn't. Libraries in particular should be encouraged and play a vital part in kids development.

I believe in Arts, Culture, Sports and Libraries, but we cannot afford them....
Kids development should be encouraged by parents and schools, not the public purse, when there is very little money to be spared.
I would love to splash public money here and there, but these times are over.

Cuts should be made elsewhere. The destruction of public services is disgusting and not critical to save money. Tax big businesses properly and get out of Afghanistan for starters.

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:

Davey Gravey wrote:

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:
I believe in public services, however at a time when we can barely afford them, it is important to focus public services to those that need it the most.
Libraries, council funding to Arts, sports, transport, entertainment etc should be scrapped immediately.

No they shouldn't. Libraries in particular should be encouraged and play a vital part in kids development.

I believe in Arts, Culture, Sports and Libraries, but we cannot afford them....
Kids development should be encouraged by parents and schools, not the public purse, when there is very little money to be spared.
I would love to splash public money here and there, but these times are over.

Unfortunately for the majority of kids there is little money in the "parent purse" either.

However, I'm convinced it would be cheaper and more inclusive to buy everyone in the country a kindle (or other e-reader of your choice) rather than the amount of money we spend on public libraries...

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:

Always Grumpy wrote:

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:
I believe in public services, however at a time when we can barely afford them, it is important to focus public services to those that need it the most.
Libraries, council funding to Arts, sports, transport, entertainment etc should be scrapped immediately.

Don't forget to add immigrants to the list - they shouldn't receive a penny from the council in any shape or form.

That is your opinion and I respect it but it is in my view it is very wrong to tar immigrants with the same brush.
Stereotyping immigrants is not very smart. .
Mr Bluh comes from a family of Austrian immigrants.

"Mr Bluh comes from a family of Austrian immigrants."

Yes and look at the problems he's caused!!

Looking through the proposals, I would have thought some things like car parks would be self funding with surplus....?

The proposals don't actually state what the current spend in each area is which makes it difficult to put the saving into context.

It is somewhat shocking though to think that £1 in every £3 goes to "Caring for older people and adults with special needs"......!

6% on borrowing costs..... Would be interesting to know what was borrowed for what. This costs more than maintaining roads....!

Why is Lydiard Park still a 100% free when you have to pay to park everywhere else which is council owned?

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:
I believe in public services, however at a time when we can barely afford them, it is important to focus public services to those that need it the most.
Libraries, council funding to Arts, sports, transport, entertainment etc should be scrapped immediately.

What do you mean by transport? Do you propose scrapping spending on highway maintenance, gritting, school crossings, safety schemes etc.

In practice the council can't completely scrap a lot of these things as some government funding is ring fenced.

Government funding exceeds revenue from council tax.

MrAngry wrote:

A.Baron-Cohen wrote:
I believe in public services, however at a time when we can barely afford them, it is important to focus public services to those that need it the most.
Libraries, council funding to Arts, sports, transport, entertainment etc should be scrapped immediately.

What do you mean by transport? Do you propose scrapping spending on highway maintenance, gritting, school crossings, safety schemes etc.

In practice the council can't completely scrap a lot of these things as some government funding is ring fenced.

Government funding exceeds revenue from council tax.

If council money is not used to build roads, or maintain them then it is money wasted.

Make all charities pay business rates--if they can afford highly paid directors why should they not pay taxes.
Many small businesses are crippled by business rates and they have to buy their stock--unlike charities who get their stock donated and have delivery vans donated and only greedy directors to pay.