BURNLEY Council bosses have failed in a bid to secure the leader's position for a full 12 months.

In a proposal at a private meeting, officers tried to change the rules governing the election of a leader and appointment of an executive - the main decision-making body - so they would remain in power for a year.

Under current rule, both can be kicked out of office by a majority vote of councillors.

Senior Labour councillor, Peter Kenyon, said the move put forward to the members structure and support working group on Monday, was designed to ensure there is not a rapid turnover in the posts.

But the proposal was instead withdrawn after criticism it would favour the current Labour-led executive and its leader, Coun Stuart Caddy.

Liberal Democrat leader, Coun Gordon Birtwistle, said: "The proposal was totally unacceptable. If Labour are not performing then we will remove them."

In June, Coun Caddy's Labour kept its grip on Burnley's executive despite not winning an overall majority.

Opposition parties, including the BNP, have 23 seats to Labour's 22 following the June local elections and could force a power struggle at next week's full council meeting.

If Labour and Stuart Caddy do lose power a compromise leader would have to be found acceptable to all parties. Until then the Chief Executive would run the council or the Government could step in and force the council to elect a leader and executive.

Councillor Peter Kenyon said: "The proposal in respect of the constitution was not put forward by Labour and the item was withdrawn precisely because we knew it would be painted as some sort of conspiracy."

A council spokesman said: "There is a regular sequence of meetings throughout the year between members from all parties and council officers to discuss how council business is conducted, including any changes to the constitution."