South Wales Evening Post - 31 July 2007
Campaigners hoping to have Swansea's Slip Bridge re-instated across Oystermouth Road say their latest campaign is a hit with residents.
The group has been calling for the bridge, which is now on Swansea's beach front promenade, to be put back up.
The group has sent out thousands of leaflets calling for residents to back their campaign.
Group spokesman Plastic Sam said: "We always thought we had public support but the overwhelmingly positive response has exceeded our wildest expectations. People are not just taking one leaflet but asking for more.
"They are congratulating us on carrying on the fight on their behalf. They're telling us that if the council thought they could just dump the old bridge on the seafront, and the people of Swansea would forget about it, then the councillors don't understand the people they are supposed to represent."
'FFLAM FESTIVAL WILL GO AHEAD'
South Wales Evening Post - 30 July 2007
Swansea Council leader Chris Holley says he is confident the postponed Fflam music festival will go ahead - even though a new date has yet to be agreed.
The three-day festival was supposed to have happened in Singleton Park three weeks ago. However, just eight days before bands including Manic Street Preachers, Keane and Placebo were due on stage, event organisers Straight Music pulled the plug because of the bad weather.
It later emerged that no policing had been arranged for the concert.
When the postponement was announced organisers said a new date would be in place within a week.
But there has been no confirmation as yet.Councillor Holley (pictured) said talks were ongoing to get the festival rearranged. He said: "Alternative dates for the Fflam festival are currently being discussed, but have not been finalised.
"The promoter is confident that any alternative dates will have as strong a line-up as that which was planned for July."
Councillor Holley hinted that it could even have a better line-up.
"A number of major bands will now have finished their summer tour and they too may now be available," he added.
Ticket agencies have no information about any new dates.Around 20,000 fans were expected on each day of the festival and many have said that the postponement has left them out of pocket.
Despite a number of problems with the organisation of the festival, Councillor Holley said the only reason for the postponement was the amount of rain in June and July.
"Unfortunately we could not legislate for the weather, which was the deciding factor in canceling the event," he said.
Swansea Council leader Chris Holley says he is confident the postponed Fflam music festival will go ahead - even though a new date has yet to be agreed.
The three-day festival was supposed to have happened in Singleton Park three weeks ago. However, just eight days before bands including Manic Street Preachers, Keane and Placebo were due on stage, event organisers Straight Music pulled the plug because of the bad weather.
It later emerged that no policing had been arranged for the concert.
When the postponement was announced organisers said a new date would be in place within a week.
But there has been no confirmation as yet.Councillor Holley (pictured) said talks were ongoing to get the festival rearranged. He said: "Alternative dates for the Fflam festival are currently being discussed, but have not been finalised.
"The promoter is confident that any alternative dates will have as strong a line-up as that which was planned for July."
Councillor Holley hinted that it could even have a better line-up.
"A number of major bands will now have finished their summer tour and they too may now be available," he added.
Ticket agencies have no information about any new dates.Around 20,000 fans were expected on each day of the festival and many have said that the postponement has left them out of pocket.
Despite a number of problems with the organisation of the festival, Councillor Holley said the only reason for the postponement was the amount of rain in June and July.
"Unfortunately we could not legislate for the weather, which was the deciding factor in canceling the event," he said.
LIKELY TAX HIKE TO FILL COUNCIL DEFICIT
South Wales Evening Post - 30 July 2007
Residents living in Swansea could be hit with a huge council tax increase to pay for an £11 million funding deficit.
Swansea Council's cabinet member for finance, John Newbury has admitted the council books could have an £11.3 million black hole in 2008. It means spending cuts and tax rises are likely.
Councillor Newbury said: "While decisions cannot be made until the local government settlement is known, clearly difficult decisions will need to be considered in the 2008/09 budget process over the coming months."
The majority of cash to run Swansea Council comes from the Assembly Government in grant form, but a large chunk comes from residents' council tax payments.
The process of calculating just how much that is likely to be has already started, with department heads at Swansea Council outlining how much they will expect to spend over the coming year. Next month, they will be asked to suggest areas where savings can be made and how best to meet the funding shortfall.
Councillor Newbury warned: "These choices will inevitably include a review of spending, income and charging policies. In February, the council will need to determine a council tax levy in the light of this consideration."
Opposition leader David Phillips said the deficit had been known about for some time and more should have been done to work out how it was going to be met.
He said: "It is clear that Councillor Newbury does not know how he intends to bridge this deficit. At this stage of the financial year, I find that inexplicable and inexcusable."
Councillor Phillips added that council tax rises would be inevitable in the future and warned jobs could also be at risk if services were subject to cost-cutting measures.
He said: "This administration has talked about keeping council tax increases down, but they are just postponing the inevitable. It will have to go up either next year or the year after, whoever is in power.
"The people of Swansea will be asked to pay for this deficit one way or another. Either through an increase in council tax, or through services being cut."
Residents living in Swansea could be hit with a huge council tax increase to pay for an £11 million funding deficit.
Swansea Council's cabinet member for finance, John Newbury has admitted the council books could have an £11.3 million black hole in 2008. It means spending cuts and tax rises are likely.
Councillor Newbury said: "While decisions cannot be made until the local government settlement is known, clearly difficult decisions will need to be considered in the 2008/09 budget process over the coming months."
The majority of cash to run Swansea Council comes from the Assembly Government in grant form, but a large chunk comes from residents' council tax payments.
The process of calculating just how much that is likely to be has already started, with department heads at Swansea Council outlining how much they will expect to spend over the coming year. Next month, they will be asked to suggest areas where savings can be made and how best to meet the funding shortfall.
Councillor Newbury warned: "These choices will inevitably include a review of spending, income and charging policies. In February, the council will need to determine a council tax levy in the light of this consideration."
Opposition leader David Phillips said the deficit had been known about for some time and more should have been done to work out how it was going to be met.
He said: "It is clear that Councillor Newbury does not know how he intends to bridge this deficit. At this stage of the financial year, I find that inexplicable and inexcusable."
Councillor Phillips added that council tax rises would be inevitable in the future and warned jobs could also be at risk if services were subject to cost-cutting measures.
He said: "This administration has talked about keeping council tax increases down, but they are just postponing the inevitable. It will have to go up either next year or the year after, whoever is in power.
"The people of Swansea will be asked to pay for this deficit one way or another. Either through an increase in council tax, or through services being cut."
IT FIRM DELAYS TARGET GRILLING
South Wales Evening Post - 14 July 2007
Capgemini, the company behind Swansea Council's controversial £83 million computer scheme, has asked for more time before giving evidence to a panel of councillors.
The Swansea IT firm had been invited to attend a performance scrutiny board meeting at Swansea Council to answer questions about why multi-million pound saving targets are not being met.
The scheme, which updated software systems and provided new IT equipment, was designed to make around £17 million of savings over the 10-year life of the contract. But after less than a year of operation the new systems are nowhere near that mark and may struggle to break even.
An external audit for the council discovered a number of mistakes in the way the contract was awarded. Audit firm PricewaterhouseCooper said not enough was done to get the best deal for Swansea taxpayers.
Councillor Rene Kinzett, who is chairman of the scrutiny panel, said: "Capgemini was unable to attend the last meeting and has asked for more time to consider the questions that have been posed and to prepare. The company has now given a commitment to send representatives to the board's meeting in August.
"The scrutiny board is set to release its findings in September.
Capgemini, the company behind Swansea Council's controversial £83 million computer scheme, has asked for more time before giving evidence to a panel of councillors.
The Swansea IT firm had been invited to attend a performance scrutiny board meeting at Swansea Council to answer questions about why multi-million pound saving targets are not being met.
The scheme, which updated software systems and provided new IT equipment, was designed to make around £17 million of savings over the 10-year life of the contract. But after less than a year of operation the new systems are nowhere near that mark and may struggle to break even.
An external audit for the council discovered a number of mistakes in the way the contract was awarded. Audit firm PricewaterhouseCooper said not enough was done to get the best deal for Swansea taxpayers.
Councillor Rene Kinzett, who is chairman of the scrutiny panel, said: "Capgemini was unable to attend the last meeting and has asked for more time to consider the questions that have been posed and to prepare. The company has now given a commitment to send representatives to the board's meeting in August.
"The scrutiny board is set to release its findings in September.
