Wiltshire Council debt rises to £420m

The 9.75 per cent increase equates to £812 per person in 2024-5 – an increase of £72 against 2023-4.

The figures were collated by the BBC Shared Data Unit using government sources.

In neighbouring Swindon, the debt was smaller – £395.5m, up from £371.5m.

But because Swindon’s population is half the size of Wiltshire’s, it means the per-person figure is £1,658.

While the numbers sound high, the increase is among the lowest in the UK. In Wiltshire’s westerly neighbour of Bath & North East Somerset, council debt increased by 12.58 per cent from £246m to £276m

And the county’s southern neighbour, Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole, saw a 25 per cent increase from £295m to £371m.

Wiltshire Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that while the council funds day-to-day services, capital projects – including road repairs, schools, public buildings and community facilities – were funded by loans.

The current year’s increase includes borrowing to support the refurbishment of existing council homes and the delivery of new ones, said the council.

Cllr Gavin Grant, cabinet member for finance, said: “The figures reflect our normal capital investment programme. Like other councils, we borrow to fund essential infrastructure such as increased road repairs, schools, public buildings and community facilities, as government grants and other external grants and contributions (such as developer contributions) do not cover these costs in full.

“Borrowing levels vary from year to year depending on loans maturing and scale of investment required.

“The most recent Treasury Management Outturn Report (2024/25) shows that this year’s increase includes borrowing within the Housing Revenue Account to support both the refurbishment of existing council homes and the delivery of new ones.”