13.1%

COUNCIL taxes in Swindon will soar by 13.1 per cent if an officers' costing is implemented.

Earlier figures produced by the finance officers pointed to a hike of just over nine per cent.

But at a special meeting last night of Swindon Council's cabinet, the decision-makers learned that "additional pressures on social services" had resulted in the revised estimates.

But nothing will be decided until residents have been consulted.

Meanwhile, in a dramatic move to "stem the bleed" on the borough's financial resources, all council recruitment will be frozen until further notice.

Further cutbacks will include a review of all the council's temporary contracts. No such agreements will be renewed unless an overwhelming case is made for them by chief officers and the cabinet member responsible for that area.

Council leader Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawn) continued to blame the Government for Swindon's "desperate funding dilemma".

"The way we are being treated by the Government is totally unacceptable," he said.

"Our social services have been zero-rated, yet the Government has not seen fit to give us the money to do our job.

"I wish the Government had the courage to be honest about its game and admit that it was robbing southern boroughs to pay more to those in the north.

"We have to strike a balance between a wish-list of services and what the public can realistically afford."

Despite the 13.1 per cent figure injected into the budget equation by officers, this will not be specifically included in the public consultation.

The cabinet agreed to seek public feedback on just three theoretical percentage rises five, 7.5 and 10.

This was rubbished by Labour group leader Kevin Small (Western), who accused the other cabinet members of "robbing" the taxpayers of a genuine choice.

"This administration will get the biggest bloody nose ever if it goes to the electorate next June having made £4.5 million cuts in its budget," he warned.

Garry Perkins (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms) said: "The reality is that many people, such as pensioners, cannot even afford an inflation-related increase and have to make savings on food and heating.

"We cannot continue to spend money that's not ours. It's people's hard-earned cash we're talking about and I'll fight for the lowest possible tax for Swindon."

Nick Martin (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms) accused the Government of having made a "strange commitment with the Devil" over Swindon's "shameful and dire" funding.

And Liberal Democrat group leader Mike Evemy (Eastcott) forecast the Government would now have to scrap council tax completely.

He forecast a "decimation" of services, but implored the administration to "be honest" and to come clean with what was planned.

Swindon's council tax has risen 31.3 per cent in the last two years.

The Government has allocated £124.9 million for Swindon to manage its services.

This is 4.2 per cent up on last year, but still below the national average of 4.7.

Swindon remains in the bottom 20 local authorities for Government funding.

After the meeting, Coun Bawden made it clear to the Advertiser that the result of the public consultation would not be binding.

"We want to test the temperature," he said. "It could be that people will say they're prepared to fork out over 10 per cent. But the final decision has to be ours."