SWINDON Council must progress from the Third Division to the Premiership, says leader Mike Bawden.

Although his Conservative Group is celebrating taking absolute control of the council in last week's local elections, he is in no mood for complacency.

He pledged to continue with his party's hands-on approach to administration, with elected members and senior council officers working closely together, and progress being constantly monitored.

Coun Bawden (Old Town and Lawn) also compared certain council departments to hospital patients, some of which were in intensive care and some well enough to be moved to a general ward.

He said today: "We need to develop a vision for Swindon over the next five to 10 years, and we need to ensure that policies are in place to give taxpayers value for money."

Referring to Government assessments of the authority's performance, he said: "At present, Swindon is at the bottom of the Third Division, but we intend to take it to the Premiership."

The leader highlighted several areas of special importance.

"We need to continue working on the education system in the town.

"It is two years since watchdog Ofsted gave the council a '7' rating, which is the lowest possible, and which prompted the sending in of outside specialists to run the department.

"However, the latest score given by Ofsted was '4' and we will work to continue and maintain the upward trend, with advice being sought from as many quarters as possible.

"We need to improve social services.

"This is another department which has been repeatedly savaged by Government inspectors.

"We will be making an announcement shortly of a major new measure aimed at forging ahead with improvements.

"There will be a shake-up of the benefits department, which has consistently been the subject of public complaints.

"And there will be a similar shake-up of the housing department."

Coun Bawden added: "To use another analogy, it is like patients in a hospital.

"The areas in intensive care are benefits and social services, and the general management of the council.

"Housing and education are out of intensive care.

"But they are still in the general ward and need to be seen by a consultant on a daily basis."

Barrie Hudson