New Swindon Parish can't set it's tax level as Borough gives it wrong numbers

Yes, that's right, as if the Swindon Rotten Parishes story couldn't get worse, Chris Humphreys reports a new gem.

The new Central Swindon North Parish will not be able to set it's parish precept by the Swindon Borough Council deadline due to SBC providing it with incorrect information.

This can only be the tip of the iceberg, especially as the Borough needs to provide as vast amount of information to all the new and existing parishes as services are foisted upon them. The Borough also need to provided them each with an asset transfer register, now considering that the department that is due to carry out this work is due to be slashed to two officers in the near future, well, you can imagine, it'a almost as if the parishes are being set up to fail.

Surely not?

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last (Last) Week ; 353

Click here for the original at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. How will it be divided up?

9. None of this is your fault you know?

8. He got trapped and I had to grab his legs.

7. It's meant to happen in three months if you're to believe the packet.

6. They want to wrestle control of the board of directors then they can sell it.

5. It sounds just marvellous.

4. You heard about this, it was all the man who visited from Birmingham was brought up for?

3. There were loads of charred bits so I had to cover it with the gravy.

2. I only knew him for two weeks, but he thinks I'm his best mate.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. I was going to apply for a visa but I'm thinking twice and reckon on New Zealand instead.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

Throwing Employees Under the Bus

Swindon Centric has just learnt that the employee conditions for the rumoured buyer for Swindon's Thamesdown Transport are markedly worse than those that currently apply.

These include less than 20 days holiday a year, reduced sick pay and less tolerance of employees who may have recurring sickness.

If Thamesdown is to be sold, then, what you can consider a Swindon Borough Council 'arms length' company, will see it's 'arms length' Council employees given worse conditions than presently enjoyed.

And as for the future of service quality to passengers, will multi-operator tickets (DayRiders and TravelPasses), got the same way.

Still no comment from SBC or Thamesdown on the rumours of a sale.

Feckless & Cowardly Conservative Councillors Hang Parishes Out To Die

There's an awful lot of skulking happening around Swindon's Civic Offices at present and with good reason.

The biggest transfer of power at local government level in Swindon since the creation of the Borough in 1997 is currently afoot with the foisting upon of Borough responsibilities to current parishes and the newly (yet to properly be created) ones.

As a result of this, there's a scramble to set the parish precept (the amount with the annual council tax bill that covers the services carried out by the parish within your area) with all these newly foisted upon services suddenly having to be taken into account. This is quite a shock administratively and politically as many simply cut the grass until recently.

Haydon Wick has voted a 50% increase in tax.

Stratton has voted a 27% increase in tax.

Wroughton has voted a 16.5% increase for a band D property.

Meanwhile the Borough Council has not raised council tax in Swindon since 2007, teetered on the brink of service-provision oblivion, dumped said services into the laps of parishes (and where they've not existed, just forced their undemocratic creation), and seen them have no choice but to raise tax to eye-watering levels.

Other authorities have and are doing it differently. Surrey County Council is proposing a 15% council tax increase, it, like Swindon, is Conservative-run and has had enough of government nationally sticking it's fingers in it's ears and thinking if it can't hear, everything's fine.

Swindon Borough Council's ruling Tories have done nothing of the sort, they have axed, cut and closed services while they could have been lobbying parliament nationally with the help of their Conservative MPs and putting their heads above the parapet and fighting for the people of Swindon.

But they've not. They've done nothing.

Swindon Borough Council's Conservatives are feckless, cowardly and irresponsible with the future of the Borough.

But I'm sure in the next financial year those three talents will be devolved to parishes.

Welcome to the Rotten Borough (now with 50% more parish for 50% more money).

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 352

Click here for the original at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. If you'd broken your leg you couldn't have walked the half a mile here.

9. No mate, I'm ugly, I'm much older than my years by bad luck, pure and simple.

8. He'll nip Jayden, she better watch out, but Sarah's got a staffie and he doesn't do that.

7. You're laughing at me, I can hear it.

6. I don't think this goes to the Link Centre.

5. He owes me 80 quid, I'm sure he'll pay me back when he gets out.

4. I have no idea what a Segway is.

3. Just because you don't believe in it, doesn't mean it's not true.

2. It's really hurting now, if it's worse tomorrow I'm going to the hospital.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. She doesn't get out of bed, I mean, I'm lazy, I spend the whole the day in bed, but not like that.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

Council hides houses behind GLL in Hydro hoopla

Turns out that GLL discussed the idea of turning the Health Hydro at Milton Road into flats with Swindon Borough Council before announcing it.

SBC suggested they float the idea and see how it's received while GLL received the wrath, SBC hurried a minimum safe distance away from the explosion.

They clearly didn't reckon on GLL being so narked at the bad publicity, they'd just freely talk about how it came about.

Whoops, looks like SBC's been dropped heavily in the deep end (of the main pool of course).

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 351

Click here for the original at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. There were three desserts and I tried all three.

9. No he goes left, right, straight on and back round to the main road.

8. I've never expected less of you.

7. She kept jabbering on about his drinking and I couldn't stand it.

6. No, it's the one in your other hand.

5. Keep guessing, but I'm not telling you how much I paid.

4. Sue said it was all a con whilst he was away with his kids.

3. It can be rented out, but he's leaving it empty for now.

2. No parking, can't you read, it's the whole street.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. No, that bus is being gotten rid of to pay for brexit.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 350

Click here for the original at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. It'll go all the way to the hospital now, for better or worse.

9. The year was good for me, I got new shoes.

8. Typically it's 4 to 5 percent with no guarantee that he'll be able to sell it all.

7. I've got it all in the cupboard in the spare room, if there's a fire, we're all doomed.

6. Performance is really good when you get past all the apps and rubbish.

5. That drink was what my Mum was drinking in the 90s!

4. She refused to talk to me all Christmas, I just got bladdered and shouted at her.

3. He rebelled, they all got shot and that was the end, I'm not watching the next series.

2. I'm going to get active and walk a lot more, or just a little.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. I could not believe the crap she was saying to me and I didn't understand it.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last (Last) Week ; 349

Click here for the original at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. Let's just see what happens first and jump to conclusions later.

9. Let it slide right in, slowly though.

8. It's just all in tins this Christmas, you can't taste the difference.

7. I can't get in the mood if you keep repeating that, can I?

6. He hadn't finished it, but she shoved him out the room never the less.

5. It splashed everywhere, I had to go back to the office and clean myself up.

4. The emotional strain was too much for him, he collapsed and there was nothing they could do.

3. Chris keeps swaggering around like he's in an old Western or something.

2. Snapchat is now officially over I do declare.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. If that mince pie was anything like the last one, you really won't be able to tell it's from last year.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.