TACKLING anti-social behaviour and boosting recycling levels will be top of the agenda for the Labour's next year in power in Bolton.

Party leader Cllr Cliff Morris made the pledge as he vowed to deliver on his pre-election promises.

He said a new £75,000 skatepark should be in place in the town centre by July, and work could also start on a new swimming pool at Bolton University's Deane campus during the next financial year.

Cllr Morris said: "Our priorities for the coming year will be to crack down on anti-social behaviour, to help our young people become healthier and to look after our elderly.

"We will offer free swimming for under 16s at seven existing pools across the borough and introduce free use of leisure centres for our over 65s.

"We will crack down on anti-social behaviour by making sure the law is implemented on measures like fixed penalties, and we are also going to be looking at nuisance neighbours.

"Tony Blair has praised Bolton as an example of how well weekly bin collections can work and, after a successful pilot, we are hoping to roll out the recycling of cardboard."

Although Labour failed to gain the 31 seats needed for an outright majority in the 60-strong council chamber, the party has tightened its grip on power, gaining two seats.

All five members of the current Labour executive who stood for election have kept their seats.

The party was holding a meeting today to decide whether a reshuffle is needed.

Cllr John Byrne, Executive Member for Environmental Services, retained his seat in Breightmet, which the Conservatives had hoped to gain. He said: "The talk was that it was going to be a close seat and I am surprised at the majority, but 15 years' service for the people of Breightmet has come through. It's an important win in the scheme of things."

Cllr Elaine Sherrington, Executive Member for Waste and Recycling, kept her seat in Tonge with the Haulgh, where six people were contesting the seat.

She said: "With so many candidates standing, we have seen a higher turnout in the ward which is good for democracy.

"My only disappointment is the amount of people who voted for the BNP. I would thank all those who had the common sense to vote for the other parties."

In the crucial Little Lever and Darcy Lever ward, where the majority was just 146 in the 2006 election, Cllr Tony Connell withstood a strong challenge from Conservative Rees Gibbon.