SWINDON Borough Council's finances have been given a clean bill of health by the council's auditors Grant Thornton.

Audit manager Steve Johnson from Grant Thornton told councillors on the authority's Audit Committee the external check of the council's accounts - a legal necessity- was completed in August

Mr Johnson said: "Three councils this year have issued Section 114 notices -essentially they are going bust. You're not there yet, but more and more councils are coming to that.

"But you do have significant pressures on your budget."

Councillor Des Moffatt raised concerns about that budget, and said: "Last year we used all our contingencies just to get by - all of them."

Mr Johnson responded: "That's what contingencies are for - but there is pressure on the budget."

The audit report's conclusion on whether the council gives value for money said: "We are satisfied that in all significant respects the council put in place proper arrangements to secure economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources for the year ending 31 March 2018."

The council needs to save £30m by April 2020.