Changes will be sweeping (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Changes will be sweeping
9:40pm Thursday 2nd September 2010 in
SWEEPING changes could leave Swindon Council unrecognisable, says leader Rod Bluh.
Coun Bluh gave the stark assessment when questioned about the proposed changes to adult social care by a member of the public at the Equalities Advisory Forum.
He said: “There’s a lot of proposals going around for lots of things and until there’s a cabinet meeting there’s no final decision.
“We’re about to go through an amazing period of change, which none of us know, quite frankly, how it’s going to look at the end of it.”
Last month, the council revealed proposals to scrap services such as free children’s playschemes and change the organisation of day care services in a move that would save £750,000 next year.
Other proposals include closing the County Ground Lifestyle centre, slashing the Connexions service, reducing the opening hours of the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery to four days a week, changing the opening hours of Swindon Direct and reviewing the Connect Supported Employment service, which helps people with learning difficulties find jobs.
The move is to cover a £45million shortfall expected over the next three years – £1.4m of grant funding for this year has already been withdrawn.
“Decisions are going to be made with some speed and we’re all going to have to work twice as hard to keep on track,” said Coun Bluh.
“There are going to be issues. It’s about making sure people get answers. Obviously there’s a lot of decision areas and issues here and we do not have all the right people in the room to get the right answers.”
Coun Bluh was also asked about the use of contracts and commissioning by the council.
“A lot of this stuff isn’t new but a lot of it’s going to become more important,” he said.
“The issue of contracts and commissioning is going to become bigger.
“It’s down to the strength of the contracts.
“If the contracts are not right in the first place you’re not going to get the right results.
“There’s going to be a lot more contracts and a lot more issues and the issue of openness and transparency.”
Budget proposals will be discussed at a cabinet meeting on September 22 before the full council meeting on October 7.
For the full list of proposals visit www.swindon.gov.uk/budget2010.
Comments(13)
Jaz B
says...
1:32am Fri 3 Sep 10
So far only 30 people are paying to use it.
30 people for £450,000 thats one hell of a subsidy!!
Who choses which buisnesses get support? the local masons?
Always Grumpy
says...
6:15am Fri 3 Sep 10
Still not gone to China then? What a pity - they must be getting desperate for you to get out there and sort them out.
politicrat
says...
8:19am Fri 3 Sep 10
Always Grumpy wrote:but are you able to debate about this important subject?
Yet another new word invented by poliprat, 'squeleton'. Still not gone to China then? What a pity - they must be getting desperate for you to get out there and sort them out.
Grow up for a change.....
Synergie
says...
8:22am Fri 3 Sep 10
( We haven't a clue what we are doing )
Coun Bluh said: "“Decisions are going to be made with some speed and we’re all going to have to work twice as hard to keep on track,”".
( We will be running round in circles twice as fast )
Coun Bluh said: ""......and we do not have all the right people in the room to get the right answers.”"
( We will have to take on more consultants )
Coun Bluh said: "“If the contracts are not right in the first place you’re not going to get the right results"""".
( If WE don't know what is needed, the chances are the contractor won't know either )
Coun Bluh said: "“There’s going to be a lot more contracts and a lot more issues and the issue of openness and transparency.”"
( The press releases will bear little resemblance to what's discussed behind closed doors )
Always Grumpy
says...
9:36am Fri 3 Sep 10
politicrat wrote:Nah, I'll just treat every comment you make with the contempt it deserves.
Always Grumpy wrote:but are you able to debate about this important subject?
Yet another new word invented by poliprat, 'squeleton'. Still not gone to China then? What a pity - they must be getting desperate for you to get out there and sort them out.
Grow up for a change.....
Bogomil
says...
10:38am Fri 3 Sep 10
“HE SAID: “THERE’S A LOT OF PROPOSALS GOING AROUND FOR LOTS OF THINGS AND UNTIL THERE’S A CABINET MEETING THERE’S NO FINAL DECISION.”
Clearly he is taking for granted that the Tory group, like sheep, will follow whatever he and his cabinet decide by supporting the budget cuts at full council. Councillor Bluh’s arrogance appears to know no bounds and he should be reminded that the FINAL decision rests with a vote of FULL council and not just the chosen sycophants he’s appointed to his cabinet.
itsamess
says...
11:11am Fri 3 Sep 10
Since Councillors have become paid polititians there main interest has been to get on as many committes as they can to boost their income as opposed to dealing with the many concerns their constituents raise.
itsamess
says...
11:11am Fri 3 Sep 10
Since Councillors have become paid polititians there main interest has been to get on as many committes as they can to boost their income as opposed to dealing with the many concerns their constituents raise.
mrwoo
says...
11:39am Fri 3 Sep 10
politicrat
says...
2:36pm Fri 3 Sep 10
Jaz B wrote:well this is a good point, however if you look at what private pension funds do, there is no Laws stopping the Department of Work and pension to invest billions in the FTSE 100 companies and nothing could stop the department of reseatch and science investing in small innovative companies.
But Digital City is not a well thought out buisness without a good return on our investment. So far only 30 people are paying to use it. 30 people for £450,000 thats one hell of a subsidy!! Who choses which buisnesses get support? the local masons?
I am not asking for the State to stop wasting vast amount of our money in social benefits, but if we could maybe allocate 2-3% of the yearly tax receipts into such investments,which in the long term would secure jobs and create strong national corporations, like in France and Germany.
I Too
says...
10:26pm Fri 3 Sep 10
You are commemorating Mr Bluh, for losing £500k, of our taxes, susidising a business with no return"
Having acknowledged that Digital City is not a well thought out business, offering a good return for OUR money, you are now suggesting that Swindon Borough Clownschool do some more investing, with OUR money.
Heathrow and Bristol are easily accessible, within 2 hours. I'm sure they both do flights to China.
Bye Bye
politicrat
says...
8:51am Mon 6 Sep 10
I Too wrote:You are such a child, if you had taken the time to read my comment you would have understood it....
So to summarise, politiprat. You are commemorating Mr Bluh, for losing £500k, of our taxes, susidising a business with no return" Having acknowledged that Digital City is not a well thought out business, offering a good return for OUR money, you are now suggesting that Swindon Borough Clownschool do some more investing, with OUR money. Heathrow and Bristol are easily accessible, within 2 hours. I'm sure they both do flights to China. Bye Bye
If we can waste 500K on digital UK at council level and waste billions on Banks nationally, why not investing in good companies? this was what you were supposed to understand.
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politicrat says...
11:16pm Thu 2 Sep 10
1-take the easy, quickest and most destructive way by cutting and reducing costs, leaving a squeleton council unable to act decisively when required
2- using the Words of Mr Bluh when loaning half a million pounds of swindon people to Digital UK, Invest in the future! by providing extra funding for people to get new skills, by investing in infrastructure to attract investors, shoppers, visitors and most importantly slashing business rates, parking charges so to attract & SUPPORT businesses and private spending.
If our council is investing in Digital UK and if our Governement has invested billions in Banks in bad times, surely there are many reasons to continue investing in good solid companies to support their cash flow and secure decent return on the invested public capital. what stops a state/council to invest in good british firms? would any of us argue that it is not a good idea that part of our taxes is used to support National firms, creating jobs, wealth and securing the future of pensioners & youngsters