"WEAK" means low standard of service for local people and a limited ability to improve those services.

"Weak" means priorities are unclear and not properly connected with resources.

"Weak" finally means a need to develop political and managerial abilities to tackle problems.

"Weak" is the latest and damning verdict of the Government Audit Commission in their assessment of Bury Metropolitan Borough Council's performance. Not a single one of our local services was deemed to merit the top mark of four.

In contrast to Bury, Labour-controlled Blackburn/Darwen, and Wigan, were both found to provide high quality services with effective leadership and management, clarity in their choice of priorities and to be working closely with social partners. They have both been awarded the overall grade of "Excellent".

This proves that there is little correlation between poor performance and social deprivation. What the Comprehensive Performance Assessment also shows is that there is no correlation between the political make-up of councils and their overall rating.

So now that the voice of concern expressed by all the socially and politically-committed members of the community over the past decade has largely been vindicated, who and what is going to bring about the cultural and managerial revolution which has to sweep the corridors of the town hall?

The answer will not come from Labour councillors, nor from the Labour Party. Nor can we expect much more than unhelpful criticism from the Conservatives or Liberal Democrats.

I believe, however, that what government ministers are planning to do with all "weak" or "poor" councils in order to improve their performance could be most welcome for us tax-payers and for the appallingly large percentage of people in this borough who are exempt from paying council tax because they are too poor to do so.

A "recovery plan" with strict deadlines could be imposed on Bury Council departments and their staff. Former council chief executives and management consultants may be drafted in to assist the council to put things right. If the council's response to the recovery plan is not satisfactory, ministers would replace senior officers with appointees of their own. Finally, if all else fails, they may hive-off services to the private sector.

This may not sound terribly democratic, and no doubt some councillors and members of Unison and the T&G will be alarmed at such a prospect. And so they should be.

But at the end of the day, it is the quality of the service delivered and value for money for tax-payers which counts and, ultimately, wins votes. As a Labour Party member and union member, I would not have a problem with such a "recovery plan".

One would hope that its full implementation will make people realise what a raw deal they have had for the past decade under Bury's very own parochial brand of Labour administration. The outcome of the "recovery plan" may just produce some new and more independent-minded candidates to stand for the local elections next time round. So watch this space!

NICOLE IVANOFF