25/02/08 - Swindon Council Tax Set

Council Tax for 2008/09 will rise inline with inflation at 3.5%.  This was supported by both the Conservative Councillors (who control Swindon Council) and the 3 Lib Dem Councillors.  This was opposed by the Labour Group, who when they last ran Swindon Council disgracefully hiked Council Tax a staggering 42% in just 3 years - thankfully they now only have a handful of remaining Councillors so further wallet busting hikes have been avoided.

Cllr Nick Martin (Conservative, Shaw & Nine Elms)
Lead Member Finance
Cabinet Setting Speech

Firstly a few words of thanks to the Chief executive, the corporate board, Stuart Mckellar and his finance team, the cabinet and FPAG, the Financial Planning Advisory Group, for the huge amount of work involved in bringing this budget home.  Revenue, Capital, Regeneration today the budget making process is more complex than ever before and everyone must be on top of their game, many thanks to you all.

The year is 2008, a time when: petrol, gas, electricity and food are all costing more. A time when mortgage interest rates are higher than in recent years and the housing market is very uncertain. In these economic conditions managing Swindon’s finances is a difficult task.

Nationally Council Tax rises will be over 4% with 4.8% a common increase.  But fortunately Swindon is a  Conservative Council and the Swindon Council tax rise will by less than the national average.

In fact if we received the same Government Grant Settlement as an average Unitary Authority we could deliver: regeneration and recovery and we could Cut Council Tax!

If we were an average Unitary Authority we would receive £21million per annum more grant fund than we do today.  We would receive £70million of grant and not the meagre £49million we actually receive.

If we were Milton Keynes we would be receiving £90 per head more grant.  Over £16million more than Swindon receives.  A massive third more grant aid, £64 million rather than £49million.  With all that extra money we could do so much more and cut council tax.

Anyway enough pipe dreaming we are badly treated but do a hell of a job. 

This year’s Tory budget is about hard work, good business common sense and successful financial planning.  Between 2002 and 2004 Labour raised Swindon Council Tax bill by 42% but failed to recover the “Zero” star council that they had created. 

However, in three years 2005, 2006, and 2007 we the Conservatives kept Council Tax rises to a modest 11.2% and recovered council services from “0” Stars to 4*, 3* and at worst 2*.

Labour threw money at the wall but achieved nothing the Conservatives have aimed funding, targeted services, and cut waste.  We have RECOVERED Swindon council services.

Today’s 2008/2009 budget is a new budget for Swindon.  After 3 years of recovery I pleased to present a budget for REGENERATION & TRANSFORMATION.  This budget contains £1million of extra mortgage payments, money that will drive the capital programme.

The people of Swindon want a new town centre, new schools, better care services, and better parks and recreation. They demand transformation and regeneration. And that is what Conservative Councillors in Swindon are delivering.

This is a Swindon budget for new schools, a new town centre, new care homes and joint working with the Primary Care Trust.

Despite:

·        Gordon Brown’s crumbling economy.

·        Despite Gordon Brown’s free pensioner travel that we are paying for!

·        Despite huge increases in landfill tax.

·        Despite being the 17^th worst funded education authority.

·        Despite being a basement authority when grant funding is handed out.

Despite all these disadvantages we are delivering good and excellent services, for example:

·        A 4 * Revenue and Benefit Service

·        A 4 * Housing Service

·        A 3 * Use of Resources.

Despite every disadvantage we are building a better Swindon:

·        New schools – a new primary school will open in Toothill this year.

·        Libraries, a new Central Library will open this year.

·        Youth - The old railway museum will be restored and refitted as a centre for youth work.

·        This week the demolition of the old SwindonCollege building begins and next year a new Regent Circus Shopping and Cinema Centre will open.

·        In the capital programme there are many more schools, care homes and regeneration to be proud of.

Despite every disadvantage I am delighted to offer you:

·        A Conservative budget,

·        A budget for transformation

·        A budget for regeneration

And a council tax rise of only 3.5%.

This is a prudent budget, an affordable budget, and a budget for regeneration.

I ask every councillor to vote for the 2008/2009 budget, to vote for a Swindon budget a budget for a better Swindon.