The list of repairs needed at Swindon’s 10,000 council houses and flats has been more than halved over the last 18 months.

But progress is likely to stall because of staff shortages in the borough's housing repairs unless extra money is spent, councillors have been told.

Director of operations Brian Pinchbeck has prepared a report for members of the corporate and resources oversight committee and it's due to be discussed on Wednesday.

It explains how the housing repairs list grew during Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions, putting huge strain on the repairs teams.

“During the lockdown periods the teams continued to work, but could only carry out emergency work which required full PPE to be worn," it said.

“This time, where no non-essential repairs were carried out caused a backlog of repair requests. Since the restrictions have been lifted, the work in progress has decreased from a level of over 6,000 outstanding repair requests to approximately 2,900 outstanding repairs requests to date.”

But Mr Pinchbeck said there is a significant shortage of staff for the work.

"The team is running approximately 30 per cent below the budgeted resource. Our inability to recruit and retain to the budgeted levels is mainly due to our competitiveness with regards to pay compared to the market.”

He adds: “While the overall resource shortfall is high, there are some areas that are disproportionately affected. These included plumbing, glazing, roofing, painting, decorating and carpentry. This has resulted in these areas having repairs that cannot be reappointed within an acceptable period of time.”

The members of the committee will learn there is a two-point plan to address the shortage and maintain progress in cutting down the list.

The council will buy in work from contractors where its own staff can’t get to jobs soon enough, but an improved pay and rewards structure to be brought in at Euclid Street from next April is also seen as being a way to fill the vacancies in the repairs team with staff.

“We will be better able to address both the recruitment and retention challenge thereby, providing the correct capacity to deal with repairs request as they are reported.”

The committee meeting will start at 6pm on Wednesday at the council chambers in Euclid Street.