SWINDON Dance could become an independent charity by the summer.

Plans to remove the national dance agency from Swindon Council's control are set to be endorsed by the local authority's cabinet tonight.

And the move should allow the agency one of only 10 in the country to draw in more funding for its work, according to the council.

Coun Jemima Milton, cabinet member for environment and property, is delighted with the move.

"It is brilliant news," she said. "Swindon Dance is one of the few national dance agencies and by becoming independent it will ensure its future and enable it to get more funding.

"This is something that Swindon Dance asked to do and we are really pleased that we can support them."

The council's report on the agency's switch to make it a charitable private company says it would give Swindon Dance access to more external funding as many bodies will only fund independent agencies, not those run by councils. It will also give the agency full control over its affairs.

The council's funding of the agency will reduce by 14 per cent over the next three years from £212,470 at the end of 2004-5 to £182,976 in 2007-8.

The council will work with Swindon Dance to work out how to manage this reduction in funding and increasing the price of classes is one option.

The agency will continue to use the Town Hall on a 10-year lease but there will be a break clause in the lease in case the council needs the Town Hall site as part of the regeneration of the town centre.

Around 40,000 people of all ages either watch or take part in Swindon Dance's productions of ballet, tap, contemporary and jazz dance every year.

No-one from Swindon Dance was available to comment on the move last night.

If cabinet approves the plans tonight Swindon Dance should move to independence from July 1.

The cabinet meets at 6pm tonight in the Civic Offices, Euclid Street, Swindon.

Also on the agenda are the grants given to voluntary groups, which are being cut by more than £200,000 this year.

Isabel Field