Swindon Borough Council's budget is in a slightly healthier position.

But the authority is still looking to have to close a gap of several million pounds by the end of March.

Coun Keith Williams the Conservative cabinet member for finance told his colleagues the projected overs pend at the end of the year had dropped by £300,000. That was mainly caused by an improvement in the figures of the adult's health and care budget of £1.6m, but offset by an increase in the children's services overspend of £0.7m.

This leave the council with a projected spending gap of £11.4m. This will be further brought down by a Covid-19-related spending grant from central government of £5.7m, leaving a real projected overspend of £5.7m.

Coun Williams said: "The corporate management team continues to develop plans to mitigate the forecast overspend to minimise the requirement to call on reserve.

The cabinet approved the amendment to the budget to include a grant of £236,000 from government to help staff more plans for improving cycling and walking in the borough and £550,000 from the central Safer Streets fund on measures to keep women safer.