21/10/11 - Swindon Advertiser Weekly Article

Last week I was delighted to join my South Swindon colleague Robert Buckland MP and senior Councillors as part of an X-Factor style panel to judge presentations from young people on Swindon’s future. Teams from Swindon Academy, Warneford, Commonweal, Nova Hreod, Lydiard Park Academy and Ridgeway Schools all took part in the event as part of Local Democracy Week, and we were all exceptionally impressed with their ideas, insight and enthusiasm. Key areas highlighted for improvement included parks, the town centre, buses, youth and leisure services. The sheer number of fantastic ideas was so impressive. One thing’s for sure - Swindon’s next generation of leaders is keen and ready to get involved!

On the specific issue of youth provision, my opposition to Stratton Parish Council’s proposals to provide ‘graffiti walls’ was reported this week. I make no apologies for this. Swindon Borough Council trialled graffiti walls at Mannington in 2001 and it was an unmitigated disaster. Apart from the expense to hard pressed Council Tax payers, the site became a haven for uncontrolled graffiti with the surrounding area quickly becoming covered. To Stratton Parish’s credit, they are at least trying to engage with young people. I’ve suggested the money would be better spent providing activities such as free football or street dance sessions in local schools and community centres. These would not only prove more popular, but are a positive physical activity.

Turning to the economy, we are determined to help people with the cost of living. That's why we've cut fuel duty, frozen council tax, and cut income tax for millions. And this week, the Prime Minister met with energy suppliers to discuss how to bring down gas and electricity bills. There are a couple of problems here. Firstly, the last government failed to start building the next generation of power stations, so we are increasingly relying on foreign energy supplies with volatile prices. Incidentally, Labour’s last Energy Secretary was Ed Miliband! Secondly, the big six energy suppliers have created a bewildering array of tariffs, making it hard for consumers to get the best deal; indeed surveys suggest 80% of consumers are not on the best tariff.

To address this we will get Britain producing more of its own energy, we will support consumers by simplifying tariffs and making it easier to switch to get the best deals, and we will encourage competition to break the monopoly of the big six. We are giving the most vulnerable households free or heavily subsidised insulation, we’re ensuring a £120 rebate to more than 600,000 of our most vulnerable pensioners and we’re maintaining the vital winter fuel and cold weather payments. That’s reassuring news, given that we’ve just had our first frost of the season.