Concerns have been raised that voters in less privileged areas are not being treated fairly over postal voting.

Labour says adverts with information about how to do it are only being carried in a magazine delivered to more affluent areas.

Leader of the Labour group Jim Grant said the Link magazine’s distribution map showed it was sent to every home in the outer areas of Swindon in the north, west and south east of the town – around 50,000 homes.

But it in the centre where there were less affluent areas it was left at locations like libraries and cafes.

“An advert is going promoting postal voting to what are predominantly Conservative-held wards,” said Coun Grant.

“It is not being delivered to Liden, Eldene and Park South, or Walcot and Park North, Mannington and Western, Rodbourne Cheney, Central or Penhill and Upper Stratton.”

Questioning borough council chief executive and returning officer in charge of elections, Susie Kemp at a cabinet meeting, he wanted to know what was being done for the 30,000 homes in the centre of the town.

She explained the advert was just one part of the authority’s communications plan.

The council has paid for a full-page ad in the magazine.

The advert gives prominence to the date for registering to vote, applying for a postal vote, and applying for a proxy vote.

It adds: “Polling stations will be Covid-secure but if you’d prefer a postal vote this year register atswindon.gov.uk/postalvoting.”

Ms Kemp referred Coun Grant to an email she had sent him before the meeting that said: “We are not trying to promote one voting option over another.

“It is up to voters to individually decide, based on their personal circumstances, what voting option best suits them.

“We are looking to communicate all voting options as far and wide as possible.

“Within the overall communications plan, the Swindon Link provided a unique opportunity to reach 50,000 households through one publication.”

She added that the council was providing information to every parish council in Swindon.

“We are also using social media and traditional media including the Advertiser.”

It was unfair to suggest bias in officers, she said.

At that point, the council leader and chairman of the cabinet meeting David Renard said prolonged questioning of Ms Kemp as returning officer was not a matter for the cabinet meeting. He called a halt to the exchange, having to mute Coun Grant's microphone.