Another Knee Jerk Reaction From Swindon Labour Group

Cllr Mike Bawden & Cllr Kevin Small 

Labour Group Leader Kevin Small yesterday announced reforms to his Shadow Cabinet, in a shallow, short sighted attempt to assert his Leadership over his group in light of recent unsettling press reports.

The Conservative Group will not join with Labour and mirror their changes to Cabinet portfolios.

Cllr Mike Bawden, Leader of the Council said “Kevin Small, Leader of the Labour Group has attended meetings of the Monitoring Board from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, so he should be well aware that Swindon Borough Council is in no fit state to introduce “cross cutting” portfolios, covering wide areas of council services. This is a classic case of running before you can walk. The Conservative administration believes that the basics must be in place before you can add the frills. This sort of knee jerk reaction is exactly the sort of response which brought the Council to its knees under Labour. Our concentration is focused on delivering the core services to an improved standard, and we will not be diverted from that.”

Cllr Ian Dobie, Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Social Services said: “The Labour Group are clearly not tuned into this council and this town. At Cabinet tonight, the Conservative administration is putting forward a Three Year Improvement Plan for Social Services, which sets tough targets for improvement and short deadlines in which to meet those targets. We have been repeatedly challenged by the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) over the rate of improvement. This plan has the approval of the SSI, and following our meeting with the Local Government Minister, Nick Raynsford MP, yesterday, I am confident today that we can start to make real progress. We have been careful to get strong foundations in place, foundations which were absolutely lacking when we took on the administration of the Council from Labour, in order to press ahead with improvements."

“The Labour Group claim to be “proactive” in trying to implement the recommendations of the Government’s White Paper  ‘Every Child Matters’. The Conservatives, and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, believe that a measured approach is more appropriate, to ensure that we find a solution that best fits Swindon. We must concentrate on getting both Education and Social Services right, before attempting to form a complex cross cutting new system.”