Swindon Borough Council needs to save £32m next year

Swindon Borough Council will most likely be raising council tax next year as a result of the cuts needed

A council is looking to make £32m in savings in the next financial year to avoid going bankrupt.

They are record-breaking cuts for Swindon Borough Council, which has had over a decade of annual spending cuts.

The authority was taken over by Labour in May after 20 years of being run by the Conservatives.

It said a combination of inflation, rising expenses in care services, and long term reductions in funding from central government were to blame.

Only £18m of the savings have been found so far, with cuts expected to libraries, community transport and people will see street lights dimmed at quiet times in some areas to save energy.

These include 80 full-time jobs - 24 of which are currently vacant posts - and big savings also needed to be found in adult and children's care services.

Councillor Kevin Small - cabinet member for finance - said it is "sad" that they are having to make cuts

Swindon is not alone and some councils are in much more difficult situations.

Somerset for example was said to be nearly at tipping point.

If a council goes bankrupt, the politicians and local officers lose control over spending - services still function, but spending is tightly controlled by external government administrators.

Swindon is not there, but it's own team have described it as a "cliff edge".

"Morally wrong"

Councillor Kevin Small is the cabinet member for finance and has laid the blame at the door of the Conservative government: "I take no pleasure from having to propose a number of cuts this year."

He said that only 3% of the budget is government-provided and that "it's sad that we're in this position."

The Labour administration are expecting to ask for a council tax rise of 4.99%, "It is morally wrong that we're being put in that position [to ask for more council tax]. The responsibility for that is with the Conservative government" Mr Small said.

While in opposition, Labour consistently voted against the sorts of spending cuts Swindon is now facing.

Budget pressure this year has been especially hit by rising costs and demands placed on children's services, with a lack of local placements.

The department needs more staff after an improvement plan, which was linked to Ofsted Inspection Findings.

There will be a fully drafted budget brought to cabinet and the council in February, including increases in council tax, which would take effect from April 2024.

Additional reporting from Aled Thomas, LDRS reporter.