The leader of Swindon Borough Council David Renard has repeated his warning that the authority will have to make “unprecedented” savings over the next year.

Last week his letter to the prime minister and the chancellor of the exchequer was revealed in which he told them that, like many other councils across the country, Swindon would have to make “unpalatable” choices about cuts to services in the face of a looming “financial crisis”.

Next week, in his six-monthly report to the scrutiny committee, Coun Renard will say officers and cabinet members “will be thinking carefully” over the coming months about how to maintain the services it must – such as support for elderly and vulnerable adults and children and their families while trying to balance its books.

His report lays much of the blame for the situation on global affairs. It says: “Like every organisation and household, the council has to live within its means at a time when inflation is significantly increasing its running costs.

“In part this is because, in the words of The West Wing, of the unwarranted, cold-blooded and unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine

“This is also at a time when the local authority is seeing rising demand for social care services which account for around 80 per cent of the council’s spending. That includes providing placements to keep children safe, mental health services and support for residents with learning disabilities.”

It outlines the savings already made including £30m in the two and a half years between late 2017 and March 2020: “The council has already delivered significant savings over the last 15 years whilst demand for social care has continued to increase.

"In more recent years, the financial support from Government has also decreased. The impact this year of the 40-year high inflation rate means that, like most local authorities across the country, Swindon needs to make an unprecedented annual saving in 2023/24 in order to deliver a balanced budget.

One shaft of light, according to Coun Renard’s report is that things aren’t as bad for Swindon as they might be for other councils:” All councils are facing tough financial pressures and one has to keep in mind that some have budget deficits running into hundreds of millions of pounds. By comparison, Swindon is better placed than many councils to weather the storm, thanks to good financial management.

“This administration will continue to work hard to support the most vulnerable residents and will be thinking carefully over the coming months about how it addresses the scale of the challenge ahead in ways that protect vital services as a priority.”

The scrutiny committee meets at 6pm on Monday December 12 at the civic offices in Euclid Street.