LAST night's full council meeting was compared to a circus act by one councillor who said it was the worst he had been to in 28-years.

The monthly meetings are a chance for all 59 councillors to convene and discuss borough business. But the meeting ended in farce shortly before 9pm when Swindon mayor Derek Benfield (Lab, Covingham and Nythe) wrapped up the meeting before some had the chance to hold cabinet members to account.

Usually the last item of the night is when cabinet members answer questions on their portfolios, but someone called for the evening's business to be closed causing utter chaos in the chamber.

Pandemonium ensued with some councillors glad to rush home, while others declared it an affront to democracy by not giving them the chance to quiz lead members on their jobs.

After the meeting Jim D'Avila (Lab, Moredon) mused: "It's the worst full council meeting I've been to in 28-years.

"I don't think anyone was getting to grips with the issues and I'm glad that no members of the public were there at the end because it would have been an extremely bad advert for the council Billy Smart would have been proud of us tonight."

Councillors reconvene on Tuesday night for a planning meeting and the following night senior councillors meet for the penultimate cabinet meeting of the year, which will be chaired by council leader Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawns).