IN response to the SwindonCard article (EA May 12) I would like to draw your attention to the following:

For a considerable time the Council has been seeking to provide a consistent approach to charging for all Council services that levy a charge.

Elected members and officers also recognised that the Gold Card scheme was not always targeting subsidy in the most direct, accountable and measurable way.

Following a value for money overview that was undertaken by the Council's external auditors, a cross party task group was set up to examine the Council's charging policy.

The need for the Council to adopt a policy framework within which to review how and what it charged for services was further substantiated in the report The Price is Right that was published by the Audit Commission.

The Council recognised the need to devise a scheme that would favour residents of Swindon over non-residents, but at the same time would continue to offer access to the community living outside Swindon Borough boundaries.

The scheme also had to incorporate a number of the Council's objectives.

These are:

n to promote social inclusion by improving access within all operating hours to services for target groups thus targeting low pricing to those disadvantaged and most in need

n to enable the Council to further government objectives on electronic service delivery

Since the introduction of the SwindonCard in February 2003 over 30,000 cards have been issued, 19,000 of these attracting a subsidy.

Since the launch of the SwindonCard the Council has responded to customer feedback adding to the list of acceptable concession criteria those people who are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance and providing, free of charge, SwindonCards to Swindon Borough residents aged 75 and over.

J F SHORT

Director

Swindon Services