Drastic measures in difficult times
IT'S not an easy time to be in local government, or indeed government of any sort. Local councils all over Wales are facing testing times with swingeing budget cuts ahead of them.
Swansea Council leader Chris Holley seems to be having a particularly torrid time of it at the moment.
So much so that he as written to fellow Liberal Democrat and Government Business Secretary Vince Cable asking him to intervene.
He feels that the Labour-Plaid run Welsh Assembly isn't giving Swansea a fair shout.
Grammar aside, Mr Holley is sticking by his letter and some of the questions he poses in it. It is after all his job to get the best for Swansea.
Perhaps he makes some fair points — Cardiff has enjoyed vast amounts of investments and has a fantastic shopping centre, leaving Swansea's retail facilities somewhat in the shade.
But the bottom line is, all councils are facing difficult times and must cope without the intervention of Central Government. Swansea can be no different.
4 Comments
by Heather Fan, Here
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 1:32PM
“Thank you for standing up for free speech on here yet again Heather. D. x”
by Heather, Mumbles
Monday, September 06 2010, 2:31PM
“He is speaking up for Swanea isn't he? So why is it that people are ready with their knives to cut his throat?
Why is it that (some) people can't cope with free-speech? What is it that frightens them?”
by Steve, Swansea
Monday, September 06 2010, 10:47AM
“I think Frank's question answers itself.
Of equal concern, surely, is the fact that the leader of the council - yes, the leader - could have written such an utterly illiterate letter.
Nobody expects every single councillor to have the wordpower of Susie Dent, but honestly, I know schoolchildren who can put together better correspondence than Holley's.
I note that Vince Cable has not yet replied. Presumably he is still trying to understand Holley's points.”
by Frank, Ystumllwnarth
Monday, September 06 2010, 9:28AM
“Let the readers decide whether Cllr. Holley's letter to a Minister of the Crown was fair comment or an abuse of Office for party political gain.
http://anotherdayandes.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-post.html”