A CABINET minister has insisted the Government has "no intention" of cancelling next year's local elections in Swindon.

Local government minister David Miliband told the Adver yesterday the claims were a "non story".

Leaked documents were reported to reveal that officials from Mr Miliband's department had told councils it was "highly unlikely" the elections which normally take place every four years will go ahead.

The Government plans to publish a White Paper on reforming councils in the summer, which could see all councils become like Swindon, with one tier of command, rather than the rest of Wiltshire in which there is the county council and district councils such as North Wiltshire. The Government hopes the reforms will become law in early 2007.

There would then be "shadow" votes for the newly-reorganised councils in 2008 with them taking power 2009.

Leaked minutes of one government meeting are reported to show officials claiming it would not be efficient to hold elections for 300 councils, which would then face another vote only a year later.

But Mr Miliband said: "We don't expect or intend to cancel the local elections next year."