A FULL inspection of the way Swindon Council run its services was beginning today. Inspectors from the Audit Commission will be in Swindon for two weeks, assessing the quality and efficiency of all the council's services.

The review, called the comprehensive performance assessment (CPA), is taking place at all councils around the country. It will place them into one of four categories: high performing, striving, coasting or poor performing.

Those judged to be failing could face intervention from the state. Swindon Council has already failed two major inspections in the last 12 months, with its education service slammed by Ofsted and its social services department viewed to be among the worst 10 in the country.