The leader of Swindon Borough Council, Coun David Renard, will meet with business people tonight to get their views over the authority's budget proposals.

Papers put out by Euclid Street show the council proposes an increase in its council tax precept of 3.99 per cent, with a quarter of that ringfenced for adult social care

Coun Renard said: “We sincerely hope members of the local business community attend this meeting as their feedback is extremely important to us.

“We need to get a good understanding of the views of local business people before we make important decisions on the budget next month. The meeting will also be a good opportunity to find out about some of the other important issues that are facing local businesses in Swindon.”

The council is also funded by a portion of the business rates that it collects - at the moment it is allowed to keep 50 per cent of all it collects from business, over an amount it must send to central government.

The council’s cabinet will meet to discuss next year’s budget on Wednesday, 6 February before it is set by Full Council later that month.