A COUNCIL is to take over reponsibility for planning a neighbouring borough's future - just months after trying to take it over.

The regeneration deal between Blackburn with Darwen and Hyndburn councils is thought to be the first of its kind in the country.

The six-month contract, due to be signed in the next few days, leaves no position for Nigel Rix, the £75,000-a-year director of regeneration, who is to leave Hyndburn council after 10 years.

It will mean that senior staff from Blackburn town hall will run a wide range of projects, including the regeneration of Accrington town centre and the borough's housing renewal.

But the scheme is likely to raise eyebrows on either side of the border, coming as it does just months after the two councils went to war over plans to shake up local government boundaries.

Today both councils said the spat was now in the past.

But that hasn't stopped Hyndburn insisting on a clause in the contract which prevents Blackburn with Darwen using it to help a takeover in any future local government shake-up.

The move is expected to bring significant savings to cash-strapped Hyndburn Council and comes just weeks after leader Coun Peter Britcliffe said he was open to proposals to sub-contract services or sell off buildings.

Today he said: "We believe that the collaboration will enable both councils to share strengths while providing a cost-effective means of managing the similar issues that we face.

"We will therefore be evaluating over the next six months whether it works for us."

A senior Blackburn Labour councillor said: "The deal means our senior officers spend up to a day of their week each working in Hyndburn and there are joint projects, such as the development of Whitebirk, where we think we will make more progress."

One of Labour-run Blackburn with Darwen's first jobs as part of the deal, signed for an undisclosed fee, will be to suggest efficiency savings.

Senior officers will oversee the management of Accrington centre, the proposed development of the market hall and the re-siting of the bus station, the revamp of Broadway, development plans at Whitebirk and external funding.

Graham Burgess, executive director for regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen, will oversee the project.

Earlier this year, Blackburn with Darwen Council submitted proposals to expand into Tory-controlled Hyndburn which made up one of two options which would have voted on in this month's aborted regional assembly referendum.

Hyndburn launched a fight-back, with a 'Back off Blackburn' and leader Peter Britcliffe likened his opposite number at Blackburn with Darwen, Sir Bill Taylor, to Hitler.

Hyndburn opposition Labour leader Jean Battle said: "We have got ideas, and Blackburn have got ideas, I think we could all learn from pooling our resources."

"Nigel has worked extremely well for Hyndburn over the years. His achievements have been well documented - the Globe Centre and the bowling alley. He has put his all into it and he will be greatly missed."

Mr Rix said: "I expect to remain in Hyndburn and will be undertaking regeneration projects in Hyndburn and across the north of England."