Free Swimming - about time too
I have been discussing the need to introduce free swimming for many years. As the son of a soldier I spent much of my childhood in Germany where most medium to large towns have fantastic smimming pools that put ours to shame (indoor and outdoor) but they offer free swimming for children during the summer holidays (I can't confirm whether this is still the case - but it certainly meant I spent loads of time swimming when I was a child).
The Government are right to move this issue forwards. As ever, there is further explanation needed about what strings will be attached and how it is funded. I would also argue that if the reason for this is to create healthier lifestyles, then why not offer free swimming to children first because that seems to be where the biggest concerns are.
The Government are right to move this issue forwards. As ever, there is further explanation needed about what strings will be attached and how it is funded. I would also argue that if the reason for this is to create healthier lifestyles, then why not offer free swimming to children first because that seems to be where the biggest concerns are.
Labels: health, Labour Party
posted by Martin Curtis at 12:35 PM
1 Comments:
There is nothing wrong with the principle of this, but -- as you rightly say -- the funding method needs to be dealt with and properly.
Too many times those of us who have served on local Councils during the past decade have seen headline-grabbing initiatives by the Government end up being funded from Council Tax. This is usually after a couple of years, when the Gov't is no longer getting any benefit (i.e. no headlines) and they think they can sneak the costs onto councils.
This happened with several schemes that I witnessed during my time on our Council, is still expected to happen with PCSOs, and it is thus little surprise that Council Tax nationally has doubled over the past ten years.
The latest fiddle has been the free 'bus passes that were supposed to be fully funded from Whitehall, but (in my own area) are costing local taxpayers over a million pounds a year frm Council Tax.
What's the betting that the same will happen with the swimming idea?
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