Councillors should be giving up their wages (From Swindon Advertiser)

Councillors should be giving up their wages

5:31pm Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Letters

There is no doubt that Swindon Council has to make some very difficult decisions as a result of the reduced grant, determined by the ConDem Central Administration.

Besides a pay freeze, many council employees are facing redundancy or reduced income to resolve a financial crisis not of their making. In some departments, people are being asked to consider substantial pay cuts to protect the jobs of colleagues. In some instances, these individuals are the sole breadwinner for their families and face an uncertain future.

My concern is that councillors who are making these decisions, or are at least party to them, are themselves in receipt of the equivalent of a second wage (councillors’ pay and allowances). Therefore, I would suggest that councillors, in this time of austerity, forego this remuneration. It would send a clear message that they have fully embraced David Cameron’s philosophy of the Big Society and that we really are all in this together. What a way to demonstrate their commitment to public service, to work for the benefit of the local community and not for personal financial gain.

In addition, they would be seen as role models for other Swindon people, who, after a day’s work, the council are looking to voluntarily assist in libraries, to help with young people, the aged and infirm.

Recently the leader of the council, Rod Bluh, appealed to the residents of Swindon to be selfless and not selfish. What finer example than for Mr Bluh and his fellow councillors to show their willingness to serve and not be self-serving.

K R Hayward Croft Road Swindon

Collections correct

The council are quite right to reject the return to weekly “all-in-one” bin collections (Swindon Advertiser editorial of Tuesday, February 7).

The need to recycle and reduce landfill volumes in order to meet emission targets and keep council tax bills as low as possible is the correct way forward for the vast majority of us, despite our grumbling over the inconvenience.

I would concede that a one-size-fits-all approach is wrong and that separate arrangements should be made for people who live in flats, are infirm or live in confined areas where space is at a premium.

They do not have the room to support all the necessary bins and bags, whether it is for one or two weeks and they should, by agreement, only segregate that which they are reasonably capable of performing.

I wholeheartedly agree that there should be no bin policing for minor misdemeanours, however, blatant and continual disregard of agreed procedures which can be classed as anti-social behaviour should be firmly dealt with.

David Garmont Station Road Chiseldon Swindon

Olympic error

The tickets for the London Olympics are to be printed in the United States.

This a very big contract worth millions of pounds, and there are many British companies that could have printed these Olympic tickets.

The ruling elite of this country do not realise the importance of supporting British industry.

It is bad decisions like this that are the reason that 2.7million people are unemployed in Britain today.

Steve Halden Beaufort Green Swindon

Penny pinched

My wife has just received 25p a week added to her pension.

I am not allowed to say how old she is, however with her 25p added to mine we have decided that one of us can have a day out to Weston-super-Mare next year, albeit we will have to take sandwiches as there won’t be enough to buy a meal.

Of course we will have to toss a coin to decide who should take this wondrous day out.

Unknown to my wife, I have a two headed penny! Weston-super-Mare here I come.

Alan Cox Alton Close Swindon