Council leader Mike BawdenTHE most vulnerable people in society will suffer as a result of Swindon Council's latest budget, according to opposition coun-cillors.

The council last night set a council tax rise of three per cent as they promised but came under fire for the cuts they would bring and increased charges used to fund the budget.

And one councillor even questioned the legality of the budget as at least £174,000 of savings were still to be found.

That sum came about after the council backtracked on plans to charge staff for parking and to increase burial charges by seven per cent.

But other savings have not yet been found to replace them.

The administration is now also considering changing its mind on axing the three Unison posts at the council, meaning another £50,000 would have to be found elsewhere.

Coun Kevin Small, former Labour leader of the council, said those elements might make the budget illegal.

But the council's director of finance said he was happy the extra money would be found.

Labour leader Coun David Nash opposed the budget, saying the low rise was being paid for by higher charges and less services for the most needy people.

"How fair is it to charge the most vulnerable people in society to pay for it?" he said.

But the Conservatives said they were proud to be delivering an affordable council tax rise.

Council leader Coun Mike Bawden said the administration would continue to find savings.

"We kept our word to the people of Swindon," he said.

"I think the people of Swindon will accept that we have listened, we have considered and we have delivered.

"And we will continue to deliver. We are determined to make sure we drive necessary change through this council."

The three per cent rise means the Swindon Council portion of the council tax bill, for an average Band D house, will rise by £28 to £969.62p.