15/12/05 - Conservatives Drive Up Standards In Swindon Council - It Is Official!

The Conservative Cabinet & Mayor Celebrate Swindon Council
Being Upgraded To Two Stars

It's official - Swindon Borough Council has dramatically improved over the last year' is the message Swindon Borough Council wants everyone in the Borough to know today.

The announcement today from the Government's Audit Commission shows that Swindon is 'improving well' and that it has been awarded a 2 star rating under the new Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA).

This positive outcome follows news that the Council was allowed to take back control of the local education authority role in September and the awarding of the first ever star to its Social Services in November to reflect the huge improvements in the way social care is delivered to users.

Leader of Swindon Borough Council, Mike Bawden was delighted with the news.   He said: "All of this is a huge boost for everyone in Swindon.  The last two years have been tough so it is wonderful that our determination to deliver and turn things round is now reaping results.  We've gone from being one of the poorest performing councils in the Country to one of the fastest improving in just 18 months. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone at the Council for all their tremendous hard work and determination to deliver the services that local people deserve."

The new Audit Commission findings reflect the significant improvements that it has found in priority services like education, adult social care and benefits.  The scorecard also highlights the council's future plans which have a 'strong sense of direction'.

Interim Chief Executive Sir Michael Pitt added: "We might be flying high today, but we know that some services still have room for improvement. We will continue to improve and residents will see the changes for themselves in the future as we introduce our contact centre, open our first stop shop and start building a fantastic new central library." 

Janet Stuart is a local resident who has seen how the Council has changed in recent years.  She said: "The support I received from the Council for my late father when he was very ill was second to none.  Everyone was so helpful, efficient and understanding - it was easy to find out what he was entitled to and, where services were promised, they were delivered promptly.  I'm pleased to hear that the Government has recognised that Swindon really is improving - the staff there deserve some good news."

David Margesson - High Sheriff of Wiltshire also wanted to add his congratulations, he said: "What marvellous news!  As High Sheriff, it is very pleasing to see Swindon improving so well so quickly.  Swindon is putting things right and climbing up the ladder.  Fantastic news!  As a strategic  authority it is critically important that Swindon becomes more efficient. Congratulations to all those involved for all their hard work." 

Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire John Bush OBE said: "I am delighted that Swindon, which is the economic dynamo of Wiltshire, is starting to get the quality of government it deserves.  Enormous congratulations to the Council for turning around the situation.  This is really good news."

Cllr Justin Tomlinson added "This has been a fantastic effort by everyone involved. However, the Conservative group is determined that it will not stop here and we will be continually looking for improvements to the services the Council delivers to its customers and to get the best value for money possible."

"The contrast between the mess Swindon Council was in under Labour, and now could not be more clear, we will do all we can to make sure Labour never run Swindon again."