ONLY £12.5 million is left in Swindon Council coffers from the £93 million sale of the Brunel Centre (EA, Nov 2).
Your breakdown of the figures includes £27.5 million to cut the inherited pension fund deficit to £12.5 million.
I am reliably informed that Swindon community charge payers will, in due course be called upon to fund this deficit, making a total of £40 million.
An explanation given to me by a Swindon borough councillor was that Wiltshire County Council was authorised by the Government before Swindon obtained unitary status to take a pension fund holiday absolving them from contributions,.
Swindonians are entitled to ask a number of questions.
1) Why were the auditors and trustees of this mismanaged pension fund not called to account?
2) Why did Swindon Council take over a pension fund containing a £40 million deficit?
Why did the council not aquaint itself with the incompetence of those responsible for the pension rights of their employees and bring this matter to the attention of local ratepayers?
FRANK AVENELL
Beckhampton Street
Swindon
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