I REFER to the letter from R G Sheppard (December 15, 2003) concerning his suggestions to bring money back into Swindon Borough Council and can respond to the points raised as follows:

Sell off Lydiard House and Park this would have a detrimental effect on Swindon Borough Council regarding lottery grants and profit areas which contribute to its wellbeing, such as the cafeteria, office accommodation for the rangers and the way the park is arranged to ensure open areas and nature areas are preserved.

Sell Swindon Services This is inadvisable, as Swindon Services is run in the same way as a private contractor and ensures that a balance of tender submissions and savings is achieved. The department which is self-financing and which is available for emergency purposes, is an asset to Swindon Borough Council.

Pull out of Steam Museum this is not acceptable, as the council would have to pay back £8m of lottery grant.

Steam is now relocated under Swindon Services management and for the first time a £90k saving is being achieved. The museum will not be any further burden to the council in the coming year. Obviously, there is a need to ensure that Steam is self-financing and is a major asset to the council. New management procedures and service delivery will be brought forward to this end.

J F Short

Director

Swindon Services