SWINDON residents are being urged to have their say in the way the council prioritises its services over the next three years.

And it believes that by working with partners and getting the views of taxpayers it can be among the top 25 per cent of councils in every service area.

Priorities include improving the borough's social and education services following recent damning reports.

Residents will be able to have their say through a variety of channels, including a citizens' panel, area panels and their local councillors.

Deputy leader of the council and lead member for education, Kevin Small (Lab, Western), told a full council meeting: "Street cleaning and lighting are among the main issues that the people of Swindon recognise and expect the council to provide. At a time when we are short of resources we have to look at what the core services and priorities are, not fringe issues.

"Money is better spent on things like our schools not chasing frivolities such as city status and universities we have to take our responsibility seriously.

"It's crystal clear what we should be delivering on and we have huge financial obligations. It will be interesting to see what our financial situation is like at the end of the year."

Meanwhile, councillors unanimously approved the social services joint review action plan at Thursday night's meeting. That has been drawn up after the department was one of just 10 in the country to be zero-star rated last month.

In order to make savings to free up investment in social services, the council will review all out-of-borough placements for children and families and the future of Bath Road children's services residential facility.

, which costs £120,000 a placement.

Lead member for social services, Steve Allsopp (Lab., Parks), said: "There has been a downcast atmosphere and staff are feeling a bit bruised, but this report will begin to signal a change in mood and switch attention from the problems to action.

"We can move forward to become as good as any social services authority in the South West."

Outgoing council chief executive Paul Doherty warned of "a year of tough decisions" at a time when the financial health of the council was poor.

Furthermore the ongoing dispute over council workers' pay threatens to undermine funding for services with more one-day strikes a distinct possibility.

Workers are still holding out for a six per cent pay rise despite having been offered three per cent.

The council was warned at the meeting that every extra one per cent over the three per cent offer would cost the council £600,000.

Ian Thompson, director of finance, said: "There is pressure on the council's reserves, which are already looking a bit shaky."