Emergency budget help for council confirmed

2 hours ago

Aled ThomasLocal Democracy Reporting Service

News image — Councillors are also expected to vote on a council tax rise on Thursday

BBC An orange sign has Swindon Borough Council written on it. In the background is a red bricked council office with cars parked outside it on a road. — Councillors are also expected to vote on a council tax rise on Thursday

Council chiefs will be allowed to sell assets to cover a predicted £22m black hole in next year's budget, it has emerged.

Swindon Borough Council has been given permission by government to make the move to help balance its books under a scheme called Exceptional Financial Support (EFS).

The EFS does not secure any new funding, but instead allows councils to borrow or sell off assets, and Swindon is among 35 local authorities in England to have received the support.

It comes ahead of a council meeting on Thursday, when a proposal to raise council tax fees by 5% will be voted on.

Man 'caused wife's death by controlling her', jury told

Tax hike and three-weekly bin collections approved

Town extends 20mph speed limit to more roads

Councillor Kevin Small, the council's cabinet member for finance, said restoring the local authority's finances will "take longer than two years", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

In announcing the approval of 35 applications for EFS, the government said: "We expect local authorities seeking additional support to have robust plans to deliver the improvements and service transformation required to help them to return to financial stability over the multi-year settlement."

The council's budget meeting will start at 19:00 GMT on Thursday at the council offices in Euclid Street.

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.