Politics & Council · Swindon
Swindon hosts landmark council summit as local service delivery shifts
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Swindon has hosted the largest gathering of parish and town councillors in the history of the Wiltshire Association of Local Councils as the sector faces increasing responsibility.
Swindon recently served as the venue for the Wiltshire Association of Local Councils (WALC) annual conference, marking the largest turnout in the organisation's history. The event at the DoubleTree by Hilton brought together representatives from across the region to address the evolving landscape of local government.
As unitary authorities across the UK face financial and operational pressures, there is a growing national trend towards devolving services to the parish and town council level. Jonathan Owen, chief executive of the National Association of Local Councils, noted that approximately 60 new parish and town councils are currently being established nationwide to manage these additional duties.
The shift is particularly visible in Swindon, where service transfers have been ongoing since 2018. Councillor Vinay Manro, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for adults and health, acknowledged the complexities of this transition during the conference. He noted that some parishes faced significant challenges, including being tasked with responsibilities like weed spraying after their annual budgets had already been finalised.
Addressing the delegates, Cllr Manro emphasised the need to move away from a hierarchy where the borough council sits above parish authorities. He highlighted the effectiveness of local delivery, pointing to the Haydon Wick dementia café sessions held in Wroughton as a primary example of how community-led services can reduce the need for residents to travel into the town centre. He confirmed that this community hub model is currently being expanded.
The importance of closer collaboration was a recurring theme. A new partnership agreement, designed to improve the relationship and administrative processes between the borough and its 20 parishes, is expected to go before Swindon’s cabinet in December.
The conference provided a platform for local councillors and clerks to directly challenge representatives from both Swindon Borough Council and Wiltshire Council. Ten key questions were put to the panel, with a strong focus on the need for more robust budget planning and earlier consultation periods for service transfers. WALC has pledged to follow up on these points with the respective councils to ensure that parish needs are adequately considered.
Workshop sessions throughout the day addressed the practicalities of these new responsibilities, covering topics such as road safety initiatives, climate action, emergency planning and fraud prevention. Cllr George McCaffery, chair of WALC, hailed the event as a success for the organisation, which currently supports more than 250 member councils with backing from the Devizes-based charity Community First.
Source: Swindon Advertiser - Lifestyle · View original