ATTEMPTS by Labour councillors to protect the future of Swin-don Dance have been blocked by other parties.

Labour leader Sue Bates proposed asking the ratification committee to include options for enhancing cultural services.

In particular, she asked that Swindon Dance which had been threatened with closure under proposals put to last week's cabinet meeting should be protected.

She suggested that, in the medium term service plan, the council could set up a partnership with the University of Bath in Swindon and launch a degree programme in Dance Studies.

Coun Bates (Gorse Hill and Pinehurst) said: "I was under the impression from recent meetings I've had with Swindon Dance that it was no longer under any threat of closure.

"Therefore, why are we afraid of making a commitment to its future? A partnership with the university is something I think the university would be very interested in and it seems ludicrous to miss this opportunity."

She was backed by her deputy, Derek Benfield (Covingham). Dr Mike Lusty, the director of education, confirmed the option of turfing the dance school out of the Town Hall had now been dropped under the latest budget proposals.

But other councillors on the committee argued that Swindon Dance should not be singled out for protection at this stage.

Liberal Democrat leader, Mike Evemy (Eastcott), said the medium term financial plan, which will map out how the council hopes to structure its spending over the next three years, had not yet been considered in detail.

"I understand where Coun Bates is coming from, because myself and my group are equally concerned about the future of Swindon Dance," he said.

"But I don't think at this point we should commit anything to any individual organisation like Swin-don Dance.

"We need further consideration of the whole plan and we aren't likely to do that until February."

Conservative councillors on the committee agreed with Coun Evemy and voted the Labour proposal down.

The debate came ahead of a cabinet meeting in which money matters returned to the table time and again.

The meeting often broke down into petty squabbling between the Labour and Conservative members, with Coun Bates, Coun Benfield and Coun Nick Martin, the Conservative lead member for finance, the main culprits.