FOR a long time we have known Swindon Borough Council was facing a tough future, with millions of pounds in savings needed over the coming years, writes MIKE BENKE

We have been warned the shape of the local authority will need to change and services provided by the council which we once took for granted will be no more.

Today, we have a better idea of how that that future will look like – to an extent.

We’re told it’s time for Swindon to think big, to have a new outlook. We must think like a city (even if we are not actually becoming one).

Council chiefs have said the town can have one of the most successful economies in the country, powered by renewable energies and driven by a generation of youngsters with the best opportunities in life.

It’s an admirable vision which I’m sure everyone would subscribe to. And it is everyone who will have to provide it.

Investment will largely come from private companies while residents will mainly be responsible for keeping the streets clean. Volunteer groups and parish councils will be called upon to pick up much of the slack.

How this vision comes into being remains to be seen. It will require a change in mindset from a lot of people and will those people, who will still pay council tax, sign up to the extra responsibility?

It’s hard to see how this will not be met with a large degree of cynicism but whether we like it or not, councils no longer have the funds to do everything.

Perhaps it will be easier to get everyone on board when they know precisely where the cuts are coming.

Again, the council leader talks about difficult decisions but there are only clues in the pledges as to what may come.

The new vision has been described as a call to arms. Transformation has happened elsewhere and can happen in Swindon but until we know just what it will cost everyone, the march to the bright future may be a slow process.