Fears that favouritism saw Swindon miss out on Portas cash
10:00am Thursday 29th November 2012 in Latest News By David Wiles
Mary Portas
SWINDON Council’s Labour group says the town could have been robbed of thousands of pounds to improve the town centre following allegations that preferential treatment was shown to a town in a Government Minister’s constituency.
Swindon was one of more than 370 authorities which applied to the Government for up to £100,000 as part of the so-called Portas Pilots scheme, launched with the backing of retail guru Mary Portas.
But, despite revising its bid after failing in a first round of funding, the town was again not named among a second wave of 15 new pilot areas which Minister Grant Shapps announced in July.
It has since transpired in a national newspaper that a Conservative councillor for Hatfield, in Mr Shapps's constituency, was the only person to have a face-to-face meeting with senior civil servants over securing the cash.
The Hertfordshire town was one of only 15 “town teams”, from nearly 400 bidders, to secure the £100,000 grant.
Prior to September's cabinet reshuffle, Mr Shapps, who is also the Conservative Party chairman, was responsible for the scheme.
Coun Jim Grant, Swindon’s Labour group leader, said: “If the allegations are true, then Swindon has missed out on much needed funding for our town centre without being allowed to make our case to ministers.
“The Government will be facing questions as to why is it only the constituency represented by the Conservative Party Chairman’s who gets access to Whitehall officials.
“I am deeply concerned as to why Swindon is being left out of the whole process. Swindon has a larger population than Hatfield, and is, in my opinion, in far greater need of town centre improvement.
“I would now like to see Swindon’s two MPs taking this matter up in Parliament, South Swindon MP Robert Buckland said: “My understanding of the Portas Pilots is they were really targeting town centres in a more difficult economic situation than Swindon and I’m absolutely sure that any favouritism was not part of the decision-making process.
“I cannot imagine Mary Portas, who is not political or part of the Government would want to be part of any political process.”
Comments(20)
StillPav
says...
11:19am Thu 29 Nov 12
£100,000 wouldn't even touch the sides with our council.
Robh
says...
12:46pm Thu 29 Nov 12
I'm sure they (Labour) would never do anything so underhanded.
PJC
says...
12:46pm Thu 29 Nov 12
Empty Car Park
says...
12:52pm Thu 29 Nov 12
Swindon Borough Clownschool would spend that on something like a shoddy Christmas tree effort for the magic roundabout.
That's the sort of reason we will never win that type of funding
The Real Librarian
says...
1:00pm Thu 29 Nov 12
Exactly
LordAshOfTheBrake
says...
1:04pm Thu 29 Nov 12
Take into account the costs of putting that bid together and the difference is probably not that great. How many people; how many consultants etc etc etc.
Best in the West
says...
1:39pm Thu 29 Nov 12
though...
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=kTfYQhGVy
yM
probably the dullest two minutes you will have this year.
Morsey
says...
1:46pm Thu 29 Nov 12
Hmmmf
says...
3:43pm Thu 29 Nov 12
And Swindon's Labour group isn't whining about the 14 other towns who won Portas funding in the second round of awards.
Swindon's Labour group is whining about one town out of 27 which happens to be in a Conservative minister's constituency?
Said Jim Grant, Swindon's Labour group leader, not referring to any of the other 26 towns to win funding: "Swindon has a larger population than Hatfield, and is, in my opinion, in far greater need of town centre improvement."
In response, Mary Portas did not say "Who the hell is Jim Grant and what's his opinion got to do with it?"
I 2 Could B
says...
4:23pm Thu 29 Nov 12
Morsey wrote:The biggest bonus of all is that they're not Labour party members.
I fail to see a single benefit in Swindon having elected the pair of Tories? Anyone out there think of a positive, other than a personal CV mark for either?
This article reeks of desperation in the local Labour group camp. Maybe they'd care to refresh everyone's memories regarding the way the Labour government spirited tax money away from the South in order to lavish/waste it in their voting heartlands up North and in Scotland during the miserable 13 years they were in office?
No, I thought not.
LordAshOfTheBrake
says...
5:37pm Thu 29 Nov 12
Morsey wrote:I think the same could be said for most MP's regardless of party.
I fail to see a single benefit in Swindon having elected the pair of Tories? Anyone out there think of a positive, other than a personal CV mark for either?
I seem to recall a certain Swindon Labour MP, who's only achievement whilst in office was getting breast feeding into house of commons....... How many people benefited from that little gem.
http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Julia_Drown
Alan B'stard
says...
8:10am Fri 30 Nov 12
Empty Car Park
says...
9:28am Fri 30 Nov 12
Alan B'stard wrote:And Tory.
Boring! Shut up Labour.
Let's get down to the business of running Swindon instead of playing "Plastic Westminster" or "Dodgy Dragons' Den" with taxpayers' investment
I 2 Could B
says...
9:33am Fri 30 Nov 12
Empty Car Park wrote:I'm very pleased to here you sending such a direct message to Jim Grant and your local Labour pals.
Alan B'stard wrote: Boring! Shut up Labour.And Tory. Let's get down to the business of running Swindon instead of playing "Plastic Westminster" or "Dodgy Dragons' Den" with taxpayers' investment
Although, of course, the local Labour group don't run Swindon... thankfully.
By the way, what does 'Plastic Westminster' mean?
Empty Car Park
says...
10:29pm Fri 30 Nov 12
Most people have a life outside politics.
Very few are desperate political wannabes like you
I 2 Could B
says...
9:23am Sat 1 Dec 12
Empty Car Park wrote:Ah, yes, 10.29pm, Friday night. I Too's been on the sauce and starts being aggressive.
Explaining "plastic Westminster" to you would be a wasted effort Oliver since you believe everybody has a sworn allegiance to a political party. Most people have a life outside politics. Very few are desperate political wannabes like you
Still, it was to be expected that you wouldn't explain what 'plastic Westminster' means, because you don't really know yourself.
Empty Car Park
says...
2:11pm Sat 1 Dec 12
Not surprising that a failed politician can't work out what "plastic Westminster" means despite having no other life beyond just that
Who's going to vote for Oliver Donachie now?
I 2 Could B
says...
3:24pm Sat 1 Dec 12
Empty Car Park wrote:No, really, I can't work out what you mean by 'plastic Westminster'. Why do you feel unable to actually explain what you think you mean by it?
2:00 pm on a Saturday and I have hosted a big event for charity. Not surprising that a failed politician can't work out what "plastic Westminster" means despite having no other life beyond just that Who's going to vote for Oliver Donachie now?
Is it because you know full well that you have no idea what it means?
Empty Car Park
says...
1:42am Sun 2 Dec 12
YOU are the person that doesn't know what it means.
That's why you asked the question.
As you know full well
EmmBee says...
11:03am Thu 29 Nov 12