Russell Holland (left) and Barrie Jenkins A ROW between two candidates for election to Swindon Borough Council hinges on the meaning of the word ‘precept’. The Conservative candidate for St Margaret and South Marston – and the council’s deputy leader with responsibility for finance – Russell Holland is annoyed at a claim made by Labour opponent Barrie Jennings in an election leaflet. In the literature delivered door to door Mr Jennings said he had obtained “agreement to freeze the Stratton parish precept two years in a row.” The precept is the portion of the total council tax collected which goes to differing authorities – in this case Stratton St Margaret Parish Council, where Mr Jennings is the chairman of the finance and general purpose committee.
Row breaks out over Stratton precept claims made in election leaflet swindonadvertiser.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from swindonadvertiser.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Every month, the branch donates to worthy causes based on employee votes. This month, they gave £750 to a scheme run by councillor Russell Holland and veteran fundraiser Alan Fletcher, and his guide dog Nutmeg. The donation has meant the fundraiser has almost hit its £2,500 target. Money raised will go to Guide Dogs UK, and the community will then have an opportunity to decide on a puppy’s name. Russell said: “A massive thank you to Honda for this donation. It’s really generous and really helped us. It’s a great step forward.” He said the idea for the fundraiser came when Alan’s guide dog Nutmeg was flooded with birthday messages.
Honda gives £750 donation to guide dog fundraiser thisiswiltshire.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thisiswiltshire.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A HOUSING development in North Star could help support the Oasis Leisure Centre s long-term future. That s according to Swindon Borough Council deputy leader Russell Holland – although such a move would be a change to previous policy, which would have seen any housing following the construction of the much-delayed snow centre. Developer Seven Capital holds the lease for the 1970s-built Oasis. It has also been given planning permission to build a £270m indoor skiing and entertainment complex across the road. As part of that deal, the company is expected to bring forward a plan for housing on derelict land nearby. But the Conservative administration’s cabinet member for the town centre, culture and heritage Dale Heenan said in December 2019 that it was a “red line in the council’s agreement with Seven Capital” that no housing would be built before the snow centre was constructed.