Central government should pay Swindon Borough Council the income it has lost and all the money it has spent during the coronavirus pandemic, its members will tell Whitehall.

The council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for finance Russell Holland told colleagues even with £1m coming from government, the council was looking at a deficit of at least £13m.

That is based on extra spending to support vulnerable people, and lost income form uncollected council and business taxes and fees.

At a full council meeting Coun Holland backed a motion introduced by the Labour group’s spokesman for resources Kevin Small.

Coun Small said paid tribute to all the staff and volunteers 'for their flexibility and adaptability in ensuring vital services were kept operating at the height of the emergency and the most vulnerable protected'.

He said at the start of the crisis the prime minister said councils would be given whatever support they needed and that the pandemic and its effects were far form over and would need continuing council action.

Coun Small's motion called for the council’s leader David Renard to “press the case for full reimbursement.”

Coun Holland said: ”If the motion is something that Coun Small and I agree on, then you know it is the right course of action.”