Wiltshire Conservatives have warned that Liberal Democrat claims that the council’s 2025/26 financial results are in a strong position do not reflect the underlying financial reality. The administration boasts an £846,000 underspend - however, the council’s own financial report, and comments from the council’s most senior finance officer, spells out clear ongoing risks and concerns, delivery challenges and structural pressures.
The Section 151 Officer concludes that while the council has reported a small underspend for 2025/26, this is heavily dependent on one-off actions and windfall income, masking significant and ongoing pressures in adult and children’s services. The finance boss stated that there is an urgent need to assess whether these pressures are structural and if the additional £16.011m built into the 2026/27 budget is sufficient. Savings delivery remains a growing risk, with performance declining year on year, and future plans reliant on substantial savings which the administration has failed to deliver, alongside diminishing impact from cost controls such as vacancy savings.
Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of the Conservative Group, said:
The Liberal Democrats are being disingenuous and misleading the people of Wiltshire. The Section 151 Officer’s report is stark and should serve as a wake‑up call for this administration, which is sleepwalking into financial difficulty by continuing to overspend while relying on one‑off funding that cannot be guaranteed in future years. £35m has also been taken from the Council’s financial reserves which is unsustainable.
It is particularly concerning that several Cabinet Members were unable to answer key questions about the budgets within their own portfolios. The Lib Dem administration must now take urgent action to get a grip on the council’s finances. This requires a credible plan to deliver outstanding savings, faster and more effective transformation in Children’s Services, and a clear strategy to reduce reliance on one‑off funding.
Without decisive intervention, the pressures identified for 2025/26 will only intensify, placing Wiltshire Council’s financial stability—and its ability to deliver essential services for residents—at serious risk.
