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Adjustments pending

WHEN trying to make a case for the imposition of unwanted urban parish councils on Swindon residents, Swindon Borough Council made great emphasis of financial austerity.

Several responsibilities currently the Borough’s are to passed on to these parishes. I presume that following from that, as and when these entities are in operation there will be consequential adjustments at the Civic Offices.

That would be a corresponding reduction in the fees paid to borough councillors in recognition of their reduced remit and responsibilities. I trust that an announcement on that and as to the new amounts will be forthcoming from Euclid Street very shortly after the May elections.

GERAINT DAY, Southampton Street, Swindon

It wasn’t a doddle

A RATHER offensive letter from your regular contributor Bill Williams today, (Time to make a stand, SA 29th April). I am a qualified accountant who was employed by the Swindon and Thamesdown Borough Councils for many years until I retired in December, 1990. So clearly, in his eyes, I was a “bean counter behind a desk on my backside”, which sounds rather a doddle.

Actually it didn’t seem like a doddle at the time. On the one side there were the elected councillors, always wanting to do more to show that their Party was the best, while on the other were the ratepayers, always wanting to pay less. It often involved a lot of extra hours with no overtime pay, particularly during the 1974 re-organisation.

In terms of my salary and subsequent pension I was paid a great deal less than qualified accountants in the private sector could earn, but my pension prospects were more generous and much more secure. That looked like a good trade off to me as a lad from a poor family on a council estate, who knew there was nothing to inherit from his parents. Over the years I also managed to make a few extra provisions for old age.

So yes Bill, after 26 years on pension, which has included some periods of double-digit inflation proofing, I’m a very comfortably off “Grand Poo Baa”, thank you. But it’s not unfair as you imply. It was and is a contract of employment and pension rights and obligations fairly drawn up and honoured on both sides.

However, I can assure Bill that being “comfortably off” has its down side when ill health or disabilities strike. There are countless benefits for which you don’t qualify because you chose to be prudent rather than squander all your money down the pub.

DON REEVE, Old Town, Swindon

Sally was super

IT was lovely to see that Sally Black is to be one of the healthcare professionals spearheading a campaign to encourage others into the profession at the Great Western Hospital. I have fond memories of Sally who was a tower of strength in the care of my late husband - albeit 21 years ago! Where would we be without people of her calibre?

JANE RATCLIFFE, Stratton, Swindon