Mar 09 2010
Of daylight and disinfectant
The recent announcement by the Conservative Party that in future, much of the detail of local Government expenditure such as salaries for senior officers will be put firmly into the public domain, is an excellent example of the Party’s commitment to openness and accountability. This comes on top of our proposal to publish any expenditure proposals that involve the use of over 25ooo pounds of public money, which in my opinion could be the biggest single brake to excessive and cavalier spending that has ever been applied. It will put a definite spoke in further attempts to waste money on madcap database schemes, for example.
The latest Tory announcement is clear recognition that the public increasingly demand openness and accountability applies at all levels of our government. The debate in the local media about the Swindon Wi Fi project is part of this. In a nutshell, Swindon Council is the holder of a 35% stake in a company that aims to set up a Wi Fi network throughout the Borough. The Council is loaning this company 450,000 pounds and the aim is to share in any profits made from this joint venture.
There is no doubt that the rolling out of Wi Fi services across Swindon is a welcome initiative. Many local residents still do not have the benefit of wireless internet links, and the speed by which many link to the net is far too slow. The prospect of a few hours of free internet access per day could be of real benefit to people who at present have no way of accessing the net. Businesses, too, could benefit from this service. It can be used for reading household meters and as a way of improving the care of vulnerable people. I understand that there are savings to be made by organisations such as the Council itself in using Wi Fi.
I very much hope that the project is a success. The main cause of concern in the debate, however, has been about the process used in order to set up the project. The decision to enter into the contract to participate in this joint venture was conducted in private. It was not brought to the Council’s Cabinet for discussion or approval. As this decision has involved the use of public money, this process has been the subject of criticism.
My understanding is that the matter has been referred to an internal audit of the Council, and that there has also been a complaint made to the District Auditor. We have yet to learn whether the District Auditor will intervene. I would expect full co-operation from the Council if this does happen.
Tomorrow night’s Swindon Council Cabinet will consider whether or not to allow payment of the rest of the loan by amending some of the terms of the original deal, to take account of the fact that some of the requirements of the loan have not been met. I would like to thank the Conservative administration for taking this course of action, allowing for public scrutiny at the time the decision is made, and suggest that if the balance of the loan is to be paid, that all the existing requirements are double checked to make sure that they are realistic and can be ahered to.
I am sure that on reflection, it would be agreed by all involved that a decision-making process that was as open as possible at all stages of this proposal would have been the best way to deal with things. I fully understand that there were concerns about issues of commercial sensitivity, and I do not think that we have reached this situation because of deliberate subtefuge by anyone.
In the arena of public life, whether it be the world of Criminal Justice that I have inhabited for many years or the world of government, openness should be the default position, I suggest. This is the way proposed by David Cameron and the Conservative Party, and it is something that I strongly support.
