FUNDING for Wiltshire Council’s core services has suffered another blow following an announcement that the government’s grant to the council will fall by 13 per cent next year.

The grant for the next financial year will be £103.8million which will fall from £119million with services that are not ring fenced such as libraries, waste collection, social care and highways expected to take the brunt.

Wiltshire Council say that they need to make overall savings of £30million for 2015/16 because of an additional £17m of pressures from additional demand for services and inflation.

In a statement the council said: “As a council we are on top of our finances and we will continue to champion new ways of working and funding while ensuring we continue to be cost effective and provide those key services that residents rely on.

"Each year the challenge gets tougher, however we remain dedicated to achieving our key priorities - protecting those most vulnerable, boosting the local economy and working with local communities to encourage and support them to do more for themselves.”

This figures released by the council is disputed by the Department of Communities and Local Government who say that overall spending power for the council – the measure used by government - will increase by 1.3 per cent next year.

Data released by them which include all of the money raised by council tax and non-domestic rates show a 1.3 per cent increase which equates to an extra £22 per person per year.

Dick Tonge, cabinet member for finance, refused to comment on the figures released by the government but said the council were already preparing to find ways of making savings.

He said: “We were expecting these figures and we have been preparing for it. Despite this we have been investing in the highways, the economies and in building campuses across the county.

“There is lots of money spent by the council and we are always looking at ways we can make savings.

“This includes working with the police and the health service and finding a way to share costs.

“We have to make savings but as a council we are quite bullish about it.”