The authority is holding an online session for the business community to comment on its proposed budget and tax levels for the year ahead. The meeting will take place on Thursday 22 January at 2pm via Microsoft Teams.
It will be chaired by Jim Robbins, Leader of Swindon Borough Council.
Businesses wishing to attend have been asked to email committee services with their name and business details.
The invitation follows the council’s latest Budget Management Update, which was presented to Cabinet in December. The report forecasts a £3.4m overspend in the current financial year.
It also highlights a projected funding gap of £27.8m in 2026 to 27, which the council says must be addressed to meet its legal duty to set a balanced budget.
Children’s Services account for the largest pressure, with rising demand and placement costs contributing to a forecast overspend of more than £7m. The report also points to increasing deficits linked to special educational needs funding.
The council states that even after planned savings and transformation measures, the remaining gap is greater than the reserves available.
The update confirms Swindon is expected to need Exceptional Financial Support from central government again next year. This allows councils to balance budgets through borrowing or asset sales rather than additional funding.
Cabinet is required to present a balanced budget to full Council in February, with council tax levels needing to be set by March. The business engagement session forms part of that process.
The full budget document is publicly available and runs to almost 200 pages. It describes the council’s financial position as “extremely serious”.
Businesses wishing to join the Teams call should email [email protected]
