Cllr Montaut, has been talking to me about several issues that currently face the council, and as the Leader of the Labour Group, cllr Montaut and his Labour group have a difficut job ahead of them. The Labour group have to prepare an alternative budget, I think that as the October meeting of the council approaches cllr Montaut and his group will be looking down both barrels of of a Conservative sawn off budget. The LibDems must be in a quandry their national government is in a coalition. Their Coalition has cut £1.4 million from Swindon’s budget, how will they blame it all shift responsibility all on to the Conservatives, without being at odds with their own government’s joint decision?
On another note reference to an earlier post on this blog cllr Montaut told me that the meeting he attended in his own ward (Central), the other night, where the council leader attended; was nothing like their usual exchange in the chamber. Cllr Montaut stated he was far more cordial and it was an interesting meeting. Is cllr Montaut keeping his powder dry for his October council meeting broadside in the chamber?
Labour are out campaigning canvassing this morning and more than likely talking to the people about the impending cuts, which Cllr Rod Bluh has stated will change the council beyond recognition. As I said previously I believe the autumn will see a strong political wind, it will either blow in with it or rage out with it. I think you do not need a crystal ball to know that there will be a polical wind of change hitting us all both nationally and locally. It may be the start of a hurricane season as Swindon gets caught in the worldwind reaped from the seeds that have been sewn by the LibDem Conservative government cuts to Swindon’s budget.
I have an inkling that there are some people in this town who cannot wait for the political balance to change beyond recognition, and I am sure one is cllr Montaut. 
It has been said that a meeting at Broadgreen Centre in Central Ward was interesting when Labour leader and local ward councillor Derique Montaut, went head to head with Cllr Rod Bluh Conservative leader Swindon Borough Council. I am told that Rod beat Derique hands down in the debate, which had taken place.
However I am hearing that Derique also complaned bitterly about the fact that he had tried to stop £30,000 of Section 106 money being transferred from Central Ward to Old Town Ward for housing. Anyone who knows both wards will find that hard to comprehend. Deriques fought and lost that one 2-0 so far to Rod.
Will it be 3-0 as Derique opens up with a campaigning complaining broadside he claims that the Conservative failed to prepare for the cuts from their own LibDem and Conservative government, here they are:
DFT – Integrated Transport Block reduced by £550k to £177k. This money was allocated to Swindon in late 2007
DFT – Road Safety Grant £80k – withdrawn in total. This money was allocated to Swindon in late 2007
LAA Performance Reward Grant lost by the amount of £662k – This money was awarded for for 2009/10 & 2010/11 financial years
The Extended Schools Grant has been reduced by £96k to £80k. This money was allocated to Swindon in late 2007
The Targeted Capital Grant has been reduced by £658k. This money was allocated to Swindon in late 2007
The Youth Facilities Grant has been reduced by half to £48k. This money was allocated to Swindon in late 2007
The Co-Location (Localities) Grant has been reduced by £680k to £2m. This money was awarded for the 2009/10 & 2010/11 financial years. Officers have also informed the Labour Group Leader that this grant had been spent the original amount in full by other local authorities who were allocated this before the General Election.
This amounts in total to £2,517,000
It looks like the Autumn will see some disturbance with a strong political wind, but at which end?
There is a letter in the Swindon Advertiser, paper edition 1st September that does not seem to have made it to the online edition yet. It questions Cllr Mallinson’s assertions that he has been consulting over the day centres. It asks for answers.
I find this puzzling as Cllr Perkins is saying this is the peoples one chance to get involved in a beauty contest of Libdem Conservative cuts, and yet the parents of a child at a day centre are asking Cllr Mallinson for answers about his consultation as no one from their centre has been spoken to?
I am sure cllr Mallinson and Cllr Perkins both executive (cabinet) members know exactly what is going on and no doubt cllr Mallinson has been involved in genuine consultation. Perhaps they may wish to tell the people of this town exactly what is going on from their informed perspective, or do we have to wait for the publishing of the papers for the executive (cabinet) meeting on 22nd September?
Eastenders may have been running since February 1985, however in Swindon our own saga around the New Mechanics Institute NMI has been ruinning just as long. Eastenders has plot and counter plot and intrigue as well as crisis and leaves people hanging in a drum roll. Fortunately the similarities are not around the storylines, but only around the dates and longevity of the saga.
I was surprised to see on BBC news at 10.30PM on Tuesday night a clip of the NMI and a very short announcement that Swindon Borough Council and the NMI. That was it a short burst of known facts it aroused my interest and yesterday there was talk of a new announcement by the council shortly concerning this historic building.
I am worried that this project, which the Labour council steered the tax payers clear of from 1986 until the Conservatives took over the council in 2006 has also done the same until just before the run up to the elections this year, which I am sure is totally coincidental. (See article Final demand for Mechanics decision taken by Planning Committee, which has members from all 3 major political parties on council)
From the BBC website it is informing the public that the deputy leader of Swindon Borough Council is declaring ”What we have found is very depressing.” I am also like some people in the town are also depressed by the news that more money will have to be found BBC http://ow.ly/2ypHh by a council that is facing mass redundancies and cut backs to essential services.
More episodes are no doubt waiting to air in this continuing Swindon soap opera saga matter. In July BBC reported link http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10567606
Here are the articles relating to the council’s decision by planning committee from Swindon Advertiser April 2010 http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/7861466.Council_may_move_into_Mechanics__to_do_safety_work/
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/7987492.Final_demand_for_Mechanics/
I am concerned that this matter may now be a new priority over other council priorities and its pressure may outweigh the current pressures in respect of services? I hope I am proved wrong and there will be a happy ending to this saga 
Miscellaneous | Councillor Steve Wakefield | 
September 4, 2010 12:42 pm | 
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