Dear Resident

Swindon Borough Council and the Police have been taking action to tackle under age drinking. At a Licensing Committee meeting on Tuesday 11^th May the Police presented the results of some of their town centre activity. Under age test buyers who looked under age attempted to buy drinks in pubs. The Police had warned Town Centre pubs in advance that they were going to test purchase.

Training Advice has been given to Landlords/Ladies to deal with underage drinking.

If it is a first offence Landlords/Ladies will be given a warning to improve the way they run their premises. A follow up will take place in the near future and if the same Landlords/Ladies fail again they will be given fixed fines. Licenses can be revoked if Landlords/Ladies continue to run problem related premises.

The Police are also seeking to eliminate cheap drink offers that encourage lots of drinking in a short time. By stopping problems at source they want to reduce the number of individuals who could cause offences on the way home.

Alcohol related behaviour is a big issue for the police and responsible sales is just one of the methods they are using to reduce problems. They are aware of other sources of problems such as home drinking on cheap drinks bought at supermarkets. These cheap drinks ‘fuel up’ individuals before they go to town. Police can also issue banning orders to stop irresponsible behaviour and repeat offences.

The Town’s Alcohol Strategy includes an Alcohol Advisor helping at the Police Station. Police also work with other agencies such as Street Pastors and Swindon’s Alcohol and Drugs Service (SWADS). All these powers and activities are used prevent alcohol offences across town even if the action itself is concentrated in the town centre.

Cllr Bob Wright

Photo: Underage drinking – iStockPhoto

The Broadgreen Community Police arranged an Empowerment Day on Wednesday 12^th May. This was an opportunity for Local Labour Councillors to go into the area with a Police Officer or Community Support officer to help address local issues. The plan was to intervene and take enforcement action to tackle such issues as Street Drinking or Anti-Social Behaviour.

Police in company with Swindon Borough Council (SBC) Environmental Health Officers, Swindon Commercial Services (SCS), HM Courts Warrant officers, SBC Cluster Assistants, Trading Standards and local Labour councillors took part.  Below are the results of the action:

• SCS cleared 5 locations that had been identified as fly tipping areas.
• Environmental Officers knocked and served notices at 5 addresses and found evidence at 8 other locations of fly tipping that will be investigated, served 4 follow up notices that will require formal; interviews of offenders.
• Police issued 3 Fixed Penalty Notices to vehicles causing obstructions in ally ways.
• Police arrested one male for the supply of class ‘A’ drugs.
• HM Courts warrant officer attended 11 addresses resulting in 6 positive warrants.
• Cluster assistants attended numerous addresses in the area to conduct a survey of people’s fear of crime in the area.

Cllr Bob Wright

Photo: Community Police Support Officer – iStockPhotos

( Police Community Support Officers were introduced in the England and Wales by the Police Reform Act 2002. PCSOs, as they are known assist neighbourhood police teams with environmental disorder and low level anti-social behaviour, including such duties as high visibility street patrolling, tackling anti-social behaviour, dealing with minor offences, gathering intelligence and supporting front-line policing)

Central Ward will become a ‘Swindon Warm Zone’ from the middle of May.

The ‘Swindon Warm Zone’ Project is a Council initiative to help alleviate fuel poverty through improving levels of insulation/heating and to get the best value out of fuel costs. All private sector homes will initially be contacted by letter and then will be visited by an authorised representative who will help householders complete an assessment form. This will include asking questions about the levels of insulation in the home.

Representatives should have proof of identity and authority to represent the project. Residents are asked to request proof.

Preferential grants have been made available just for those residents in the Warm Zone wards.  This means that if residents in Central ward are:

• Over 65 or
• have a child under 4 or
• live in a property in Council Tax Band A or B

Then cavity wall and loft insulation will be free (subject to funding, technical survey and eligibility criteria)

One of the key things about the project is community engagement. Various ways of getting information to the community will be used including passing information through pupils at Robert Le King School and displays at Community Centres.  The project will also be promoted by giving away Jute bags and trolley tokens.

The project is being co-ordinated by Helen Sanderson (Affordable Warmth Co-ordinator) of the Residential Services Team

Tel: 0800 046 9699  Email: hsanderson@swindon.gov.uk

Residential Services Team, 5th Floor, Wat Tyler House, Beckhampton Street, Swindon, SN1 2JH.

Caption:  Attic thermal insulation – iStockPhotos

The Climate Action Campaign came to Swindon on Friday (30th April). Ed Miliband (Sec of State for Energy and Climate Change) and Franny Armstrong (Maker of the film “Age of Stupid” and founder of the 10:10 movement) hosted an interactive conversation on climate change.  In 2008 Labour produced and passed the 2008 Climate Change Act which requires a reduction of 34% carbon emissions by 2020 and 80% by 2050. The Labour Government are widely recognised as world leaders in tackling climate issues.

Yet the absence of any discussion on this issue in the media during the election is surprising given that main parties profess to see ‘Climate Change’ as a central issue that affects us now and in the immediate future. While the personality-driven media has been concentrating on the Party’s leadership for instant headlines, the immediate and long term needs of our planet have been largely ignored.  The message I took from the meeting was that the  prevention of climate catastrophe is not a sensational enough topic for the shallow UK media.

Ed highlighted the need for a global accord and solution. The international backdrop emerged during the conversation along with local solutions.  Many who attended the meeting felt that ‘Climate Change’ deserves the same urgent attention as the economic crisis.  Labour has put forward a policy to address the economy and climate change at the same time through investing in green technology and this will provide new jobs and aid economic recovery.  The 10:10 campaign (ironically for the Tories a ‘target-driven’ change) provides a step-by-step process to seriously reduce energy waste and tackle climate change by 10% year on year. Ed identified that we are in a transition period and this is causing a huge political dilemma.  Labour has placed at the core of its policies a sustainable future based on Green Industry.  Not only will this require a culture change at Whitehall it will also challenge the whole country.

Ed was challenged on Aircraft Emissions and the need for an extra runway at Heathrow. Ed’s response was that flying is responsible for 2% of the world’s emissions. He indicated that the type of fuel used needs to change – and airlines are working on alternatives. He also stated Heathrow is the busiest Airport in the world and this was part of the justification for an additional runway.  The huge number of plane movements on the two existing runways increases CO2 emissions.  Part of Labour’s strategy is to support investment in high-speed-rail links, including the Cross-Rail project in London.

Labour placed emphasis on the role of local authorities in stimulating change;  particularly working with energy companies to produce energy locally.  Labour has changed legislation to enable this to happen, and has reduced restrictions on local energy generation and stimulated local competition and local solutions.

No single future source of energy generation was suggested – with a combination solutions needed.  The audience pointed out that local opposition to wind turbines, often from Tory Councils, could scupper the use of alternative-energies.  Ed emphasised the current incentives offered to producers of alternative energies, and the support given to energy conservation and zer0-energy housing regulations being introduced in 2016.   He favoured low-emission transport solutions such as inner-city Park-and-Rides, and suburban rail and tram networks.  This matches the Swindon Labour Groups plans for a urban-transit system connecting key areas and attractions.

Ed concluded by emphasising that a Labour government would work with a wide range of local and national strategic partners to bring about its radical policies for energy and emission reductions.  See Ed’s Pledge Blog for a video shot on the way to Swindon.

Bob Wright, Cllr Central Ward

Photo caption:  Ed Miliband (Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change)

When eventually the dust settles on the Wi-fiasco the simple lesson we may learn is ‘do not make decisions in isolation’. We learnt at the Scrutiny meeting April 8th that Rod Bluh did not take the Wi-fi project to Cabinet because he could not trust his cabinet colleagues.

These are the people he hand picked and appointed to look after your interests. What message does that send? He was concerned that Cabinet Members may leak details to others. Leaks are usually the escape route for concerns that individuals are afraid to address formally. Although in this case some of the Wi-fi leaks were the result of Tory infighting.

Whilst Rod used semantics to refute the point I made about his lack of trust in his Cabinet this probably was the reason for the mess that followed. Very few would say the Cabinet System is perfect however it can stop foolish decision making and dictatorial behaviour. Wise minds helped to develop the Cabinet System to speed up decision making and to prevent the abuse of public trust. To avoid the Cabinet System is a mistake, ‘poor decisions get exposed’.

Connecting People Connecting Places has an objective of listening to public concerns and addressing these concerns. This episode has re-enforced my view that the public can detect when something is wrong and public diligence has shown that the scrutiny process can be used to expose failures of good governance. However it has been hard work to overcome the tide of political interest. Some public questions were only answered after decisions had been made. Follow up questions were not possible because people were not armed with the relevant information. Thank god for ‘Talkswindon’ keeping the public informed. This failure to answer questions prior decision making is something I will follow up with the Borough Solicitor.

My dissatisfaction with the Wi-fi decision making process is well known. What has disappointed me is that many of the Tory back bench members who have previously demonstrated they are capable of doing the right thing did not stand up and do the right thing on Wi-fi. They have lacked the courage to do the right thing and only one councillor from the opposition saw that the way the decision was made was the core problem. It is ‘black box’ politics; present a decision that has to be accepted without involvement or demonstration of value. This type of decision making is designed to disenfranchise democracy. It is the types of decision making that creates suspicion of motive and whilst Rod was concerned about people doubting his integrity he failed to recognise he was the architect of the challenge. It is clear to many but not the Tories that you can not just go ahead and make ‘deals’ on your own or just with an inner circle.

The Swindon Advertiser has reported that Rod has made an agreement with the Labour Group leader, Derique Montaut, to refer the Wi-fiasco to external enquiry. The referral to an external auditor was already in place, before Rod sought to make an agreement with the Derique, however the change in approach is welcome. I suspect this was a way of limiting further damage to the Tories. However I can not stand by and allow assertions regarding officer time, damaging publicity, costs to the tax payer etc to go unchallenged. THESE ARE ALL THE RESULT OF POOR DECISION MAKING AND THE AVOIDANCE OF THE CABINET SYSTEM.

Even now Tories have sought to displace responsibility for their actions. Those present at Scrutiny on April 19th saw the attempt to shift the responsibility for incurred of costs to the delays caused by democratic challenge. Members of the public present must have been dismayed by the lack of responsibility shown by the decision makers. As I stated at the meeting the External Auditor will state whether the Wi-fiasco was the result of poor paper work administration or some other reason. Even without the result of the investigation I hope this will be last we see of ‘Black Box’ politics. I know now many will be on their guard to stop the by-passing of democratic process.

Cllr Bob Wright, Central

If any cynicism exists surrounding the unusual loaning of public money to the Wi-fi project the Conservative Administration should not be surprised.  At Thursday April 31st Cabinet Meeting the Conservative Chairman Rod Bluh admitted the Wi-fi project was a Political decision.  Also in spite of having months to invite the local Labour MPs to the Wi-fi launch the Conservatives pushed forward the Shadow Minister Caroline Spellman.  The excuse given for this blatant political behaviour was that Ministers had been visiting Swindon?  In other words block out the Party behind ‘broadband access for all’, Labour, and let’s have a publicity stunt for the Conservatives.

If anyone wonders why the Conservatives are in a mess over Wi-fi it’s because they sought Political advantage rather than Constitutional transparency. Embarrassingly whilst Anne Snelgrove has been trying to get transparency a member of the public pointed out the Conservative’s own Parliamentary Candidate for Swindon South is also critical of the Council’s Tories behaviour. The candidate described the ‘deal’ as ‘one done in private and it was not brought to the council’s cabinet for discussion or approval’.

Labour has pressed for this ‘deal’ to go to full council as it is a major decision. The Tories behaviour has also been challenged by some Conservative supporters and local businessmen. They want to know why a private ‘deal’ was done with Rikki Hunt. Why hasn’t the same deal been open to other broadband and system providers in the town?

The loan was authorised through a Town Centre regeneration approval note, this is a blatant misuse of authority. The money came from a budget intended for wider community use and not for a single person or project. When I pointed out this was not being used for regeneration work but for new works it was suggested that copper wire was being ripped up (not true) and replaced by wire free. The irony is that the copper wire systems are being ripped up and are being replaced by glass fibre systems.

The cynicism has been partly based on the errors of judgement. One was made at the Cabinet meeting when the Chair, Rod Bluh, stated that Anne Snelgrove had not written to the Council on Wi-fi. Not only had Anne written it was the Chief Executive’s reply dated 28/1/2010 which was one of the sources’s that a Director was being appointed by the Council.

So after the continued dodging of a full council decision, the political connivance, the cover up of the ‘deal’ details, the unanswered questions from the public and council members is it any wonder that cynicism abounds.

As one apologetic Tory stated ‘a decision-making process that was open as possible at all stages of this proposal would have been the best way to deal with things’. Let’s have that open decision making process now, back the Labour Councillors request for a full council decision on Wi-fi.

Bob Wright, Councillor Central Ward