Swindon Borough Council faces overspending due to increased wage costs and recruitment of senior staff to address key issues.
The council’s wage costs rose significantly, with an increase of £16.4 million in two years. Next year’s budget is overspent by £14.7 million. Councillor Heenan addressed these financial problems.
The council added 65 full-time staff and hired ten new directors. Recruitment costs totaled £80,000, incurred within the last six months alone.
Council tax will increase by 2.99 percent. This could generate £30 million for services, but this revenue faces the challenge of covering new tax and debt payments.
According to Councillor Heenan, all the tax increase will be consumed by these new expenses. Heenan felt his efforts to find solutions were worthwhile.
He wanted to show better ways to reduce the overspending. While amendments were unlikely to pass, Councillor Small spoke about hiring staff. The council needed senior staff to fix important issues, including a bad Ofsted report on children’s services.