A Woking councillor who penned a poem about the council’s bankruptcy has claimed the crisis will “impoverish generations to come”.

A specially-called meeting of the borough council last night (Tuesday) outlined the future of the council, including cuts to staff, services and budgets after issuing a section 114 notice.

Having built up debts that could reach £2.6 billion and a £1.2bn deficit, the council’s finances finally collapsed on June 7 when the authority put a stop to all new spending and said it could not balance its budget.

Last night's meeting was a legal requirement of the council as it set out next steps and plans to shrink down its size and “reset”.

One councillor expressed his anger through the medium of verse, having written a poem titled A Lament for Woking.

In the poem Councillor Guy Cosnahan (Lib Dem, Heathlands) referenced Paul Weller’s song about Woking, A Town Called Malice, and took inspiration from John Donne, a poet who lived in Pyrford and Mitcham, as well as William Blake’s The Chimney Sweeper.

Cllr Cosnahan told the meeting he didn’t know who was to blame for the council’s financial woes, which largely relate to money borrowed for the regeneration of the town centre.

He said: “I feel an enormous amount of anger. I feel an enormous amount of frustration with the whole situation.”

The poem which he read to the meeting is:

A Lament for Woking

Cry cry Woking

A town sunk by pride

Weep weep Woking

There was no malice

Sob sob Woking

Foolishness and hubris

Greed and secrecy

Have condemned your children

Have burdened your grandchildren

And impoverished generations to come

Higher than any of your towers

Looms your debts and bills

Deeper than your treasury can fathom

The pit you are cast in

Is there any escape?

Cry cry Woking

Your poor will suffer more

Weep weep Woking

As you pay for blind guides

Sob sob Woking

For there seems no recompense

And no respite