LEISURE chiefs have again suggested scrapping Colne Blues Festival and town hall bosses have proposed cutting funding for six police community support officers and closing a tourism centre as Pendle Council looks to make £1.37millon worth of cuts.

But Tories and Liberal Democrats have remained tight-lipped over the recommendations of council officers and Pendle Leisure Trust, prompting speculation that a deal has been thrashed out before next Thursday’s full council meeting.

Council finance head Dean Langton has drawn up a significant cuts programme for 2014-15, as the borough looks to save up to £5million over the next three years.

His keynote savings include £66,000 — or £11,000 each — towards the cost of six police community support officers, £37,000 on not providing seasonal decorations for Christmas and Eid, and closing the Discover Pendle Centre at Boundary Mill, clawing back £52,800.

Pendle Leisure Trust has been told it must save just under £279,000 — and bosses there have suggested that reducing opening hours at the ACE Centre or pools, increasing admission charges and stopping the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in Colne and visits by Manchester Camerata are options.

Mr Langton said in a report: “These proposals have been identified through the council’s service and financial planning process and represent areas where it is considered possible to reduce the council’s budget whilst endeavouring to maintain key frontline service delivery.”

Elsewhere the largest single item would see £160,000 recouped from charging for the removal of garden waste, with another £70,000 expected for bulky household waste.

Another £100,000 would be saved with the scrapping of the Environmental Action Group, which has seen unemployed young people working towards NVQ certificates, on initiatives like Colne’s Millennium Green and Nelson’s Quarry Hill nature reserve.