10:04am Wednesday 17th March 2010
By Passing Shots
SITTING in the public gallery at the back of a very warm committee room number six, it was like watching a pantomime.
“Read my lips” scowled Derique Montaut, perceived as the nasty villain of the peace by the cast of the Conservative Cabinet.
Moments earlier, Tory foe Keith Williams deftly waved his Princely panto sword in Derique’s direction warning how his election-targeted actions, and those of his band of merry men in red, could derail the future prosperity of the town.
The King, pontificated from his throne, criticising anyone who had the temerity to be negative about this new-fangled thing called Wi-fi.
While the man counting all the money in the parlour, Mark Edwards, and sergeant at arms, burly Peter Greenhalgh, extolled the wonders of wi-fi as providing much-needed finance and future security to the cash-strapped Kingdom of Swindon.
Oh how we smiled and raised a little chuckle as the curtain came down on this two act pantomime at the Civic Offices, which saw the Cabinet hold back £50,000 of a loan to Digital City (UK) Ltd until they have sold 100 private use packages.
Politics is such an ugly thing which bores me as much being stuck in a check-out queue at a supermarket.
It’s the last resort of the angry and, at times unnecessary. It’s just posturing, pontificating and point scoring when the real issues are often forgotten.
The wi-fi debate is a classic. Rod derides the negative coverage about its introduction to Swindon four months ago, pointing the finger of criticism firmly in the Adver’s direction. I say, read the paper, and read it properly – remembering that the council leader has a 450 word platform in the Adver every week to put across his point of view.
It is right that the wi-fi deal, with public money at stake, has been scrutinised and held to account.
Even within the Cabinet there were major grumblings of discontent about the secrecy which initially heralded its announcement. One still sensed a twitch or two from Cabinet colleagues on Wednesday night.
But here is the bottom line to Rod, Derique, Rikki and anyone else who cares to listen.
Wi-fi is vital to the future prosperity of this town.
The Adver has supported its introduction in editorials and, as Mark Edwards pointed out at Cabinet, with the council facing 20 to 30 per cent spending cuts, while needing to plug a £10m deficit, it has to look at finding innovative funding streams. This is it.
Wi-fi will have enormous benefits to Swindon for attracting inward investment as a town to do business with. Rod reckoned wi-fi has the potential to make £150,000 savings to council telephone costs.
The digital mesh will enable better CCTV coverage across town, and assist in terms of home security too.
Above all, the council’s investment in Digital City, if it works, will provide valuable future income to Swindon so that the council, of any political colour, has the means to deliver services.
It’s time for the Victor Meldrews to be pushed aside and support the scheme.
It’s time to kick the politics into touch and take action.
Now is that clear enough support?
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