Council wants cash without change

COUNCILLORS here in Rossendale have given their backing to the ‘New Deal for Greater Lancashire’ plan.

Perhaps that isn’t surprising, because it means the existing two-tier council system, with a borough council and a county council, remain in place. Not changing the council system here is an opportunity lost.

The county council is too big to be relevant. Whenever the chance for regeneration and investment projects come, Lancashire County Council has to juggle the needs of many different areas. Bright lights will always win, and that’s not going to be Rawtenstall over Preston.

The borough council in some ways is now just too small. Look at how it hasn’t been able to handle the Empty Homes Scandal - the project which was to invest millions of pounds of government money in refurbishing homes which has ended up costing the council, and by extension us, £6m and more so far.

A smarter alternative would be one council, providing all services, covering an area like Hyndburn, Blackburn and Rossendale. It would mean change for our councils, and maybe fewer councillors, but it would result in more decisions being taken with the needs of this area, not the whole of Lancashire, in mind.

It would also create a council big enough to cope with the various demands placed on a modern-day authority.

But, as it stands, our councillors seem to think they can insist on more money, but not change the way they work. It’s all a little too convenient demanding extra, and much needed cash, but not offering to make our local council system better as a result. There’s a very real risk that our local councillors are going to sell Rossendale short in this process.