Tories 50 pledges are nothing new (Swindon Liberal Democrats)

Swindon Liberal Democrats <info@swindonlibdems.org>

Tories 50 pledges are nothing new

June 3, 2005 8:11 PM

Swindon Borough Council Civic Offices

To a fanfare of chest thumping bravado, Swindon's Tories have unveiled 50 pledges to aid recovery of Swindon Borough Council from its lowly position as one of the worst councils in the country. Liberal Democrats say the Tory pledges are lacking in passion for a town such as Swindon.

Liberal Democrat Leader, Cllr Wendy Johnson said:

"The Tory plans are not even slightly radical, their plans are what have been talked about for years. What is of course missing is any detailed costing. It is hard to see how these plans will result in no increase in Council Tax, unless more savage cuts are on their way. This is just another in a long line of claims to turn round the fortunes of the Council and frankly the Council Tax payer is seeing nothing new."

The Tories 50 big ideas include very few new ideas at all. Here are just three pledges:

• A central place that gives advice and information on all council services. But we already have one… it's the Council Office called Wat Tyler House.

• A new central library is to be built… this has been on the discussion agenda for the past forty years.

• Proposals for 86% of pupils to achieve five A*-G GCSEs in 2006 has been a Council ambition for many years.

Cllr Johnson continued:

"These 50 pledges are in reality a Conservative manifesto promise. But the difference this time is that taxpayers will fund the publication of these ideas to 50,000 Swindon homes on glossy full colour paper. This is a flagrant abuse of scant council resources, its tantamount to politics on the rates.

"These Tory political promises were released to the media before consultation with Liberal Democrat or Labour councillors, yet the Tory administration is seeking cross-party support for them at a special Council Meeting on Thursday 9th June. Liberal Democrats support efforts to assist the Council's recovery, but see nothing new in these proposals."