HAVING been present throughout the so-called budget debate at Swindon Borough Council on February 22, I feel I cannot let the recent letter from Coun Edwards (SA, February 24) pass without comment.

The arrogant and congratulatory manner with which the budget was presented still rings loud and clear when he writes that this budget “was largely accepted by the people of Swindon”. The acceptance by a well-whipped, and at times sycophantic, Conservative group is by no means a reflection of what the large proportion of people in Swindon may well think.

I am sure that many are very concerned by the 67.9 per cent hike in the cost of living charges in council-run care homes particularly when they wasted £120,000 on refurbishment of the recently closed Evergreen day centre.

Likewise I am sure there are more than a few Swindon council taxpayers wondering if we are funding jobs for the boys with the wasted £560,000 on the council’s communication team, £129,400 for a London lobbying firm besides the £450,000 that was loaned to Digital City, without mentioning of course the free office space they get.

Without doubt many will wonder why community groups have to go cap in hand to charities to furnish the needs of the youth in their communities when the council wastes so much of taxpayers’ hard earned cash to what seems to be the chosen few with a budget of £45,000 for council hospitality and £74,000 for new furniture and fittings.

The comment that “99.7 per cent of the £132m budget was accepted without comment” is amazing spin, as much of this is ring-fenced and hardly able to be cut, even with their miraculous efficiency savings, especially in areas of adult social care and children’s services. In much of these areas the council is merely the banker for government directed funds.

As was said during the debate, and something the speaker poignantly suffered at his own hands after his massive council tax hikes, the budget still has to withstand the popular vote of the Swindon electorate. Although, with the General Election likely to be on the same day, the budget, along with other local issues, will get lost in the furore of national issues. Do not have the arrogance to take the people of Swindon for granted just because the council has the whipped majority to push through council what they will.

As councillors they should remember they are the servants of the people and not their masters, and a bit of humility would not go amiss during such so-called debates.

ANDY HARRISON Odstock Road Penhill Swindon