An overspend of £4.2 million in Swindon Borough Council’s day-to-day budget is looming by the end of the year.

But the authority says it’s not unusual to see this forecast at this point in the financial year – and it is taking steps to balance the books.

The £4.2m represents 2.9 per cent of the total annual budget of £144.7m.

The council’s Conservative deputy leader and cabinet member for finance Russell Holland told his colleagues the projection showed the needs for keeping to spending limits.

At the moment three departments are responsible for the possible overspend.

Children’s services is expecting to spend £1.8m more than budget, adults’ services £763,000 and communities and housing £1.3m.

The majority of that is in the highways and transport division.

Some is explained by a reduction in parking income of £254,000 caused by change of policy, including free parking in Sundays and £196,000 less in bus lane enforcement fines.

Coun Holland said: “Every single year the council has delivered a balanced budget.

"It is quite normal throughout the year to have some variations in spending and, when it comes to the safety of children and vulnerable adults.

"We make no apologies for spending the money that is required to keep them safe.

“This means that income needs to be generated, or other savings made, in order to meet those needs."

When setting its budget the council allows leeway and has adequate reserves so it can 'fulfil its financial responsibilities'.

Coun Holland added: “We had very positive news last week from central government about additional funding for public services and this, together with any mitigating steps we may decide to take, will help.

"I am confident that we will achieve a balanced budget just as we do every year.”

In the budget for the 2018-19 financial year the authority actually underspent on its £140m general fund by £584,000.

But the children’s services budget was heavily overspent, with nearly £42million being spent against an allocation of £34.2m – a difference of £7.7m, a 22 per cent over spend.

The largest amount spent was on adults social care – £81.1m but that was a £2m saving on a budget of £84.3m.