It is a privilege to serve as Leader of Swindon Borough Council, but more than that, it is a responsibility I am determined to deliver on.
My focus is clear: to make a real difference to the lives of people across Swindon. That means better jobs, stronger communities, improved parks and open spaces, and working relentlessly with Government to fix our roads and invest in our infrastructure.
This week’s visit from the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves MP, was an important moment for our town. Her visit underlined something I have been clear about from day one: that Swindon matters, and that we will work constructively with Government to get the investment our residents deserve. We are seeing that with the funding for the new Entertainments Venue, the Pride in Place funding for Penhill and Walcot East, and in the jobs being created by our new drone sector, with yet another company announcing this week that they are coming to Swindon.
The £101 million secured for Swindon from the Government is a significant step forward. It provides a real opportunity to drive regeneration, support local communities and unlock the economic potential of our town. But let me be clear: investment alone is not enough. What matters is how that investment is delivered and who it delivers for.
My priority is ensuring that every pound spent translates into tangible improvements in people’s daily lives. That means creating better employment opportunities, backing local businesses and ensuring our town centre is fit for the future. It means investing in the parks and open spaces that families rely on. And it means continuing to press Government to work with us to fix our roads and address the infrastructure challenges residents raise with me every week.
This is about delivery, not promises. It is also about representation.
Swindon is a proud, diverse town. From long-established communities to those who have made Swindon their home more recently, my role is to represent every single resident. That means listening, acting and ensuring that no part of our town is overlooked.
Too often in the past, places like Swindon have been told to wait. To settle for less. To accept that investment will go elsewhere. I do not accept that.
We will make the case for Swindon – strongly, consistently and unapologetically. And when Government is prepared to back our town, as we have seen this week, we will work in partnership to deliver results. Because ultimately, this is not about politics for its own sake. It is about improving lives.
Better jobs. Better neighbourhoods. Better opportunities.
That is what I am focused on delivering – and that is what the people of Swindon should expect from their council.
Jim Robbins
