A PUBLIC meeting in Bacup will include a presentation by council chiefs on the future of Rossendale Borough Council.

People will be invited to ask questions and make comments on Boundary Commission proposals at the Rossendale Area Forum to be held at Bacup Leisure Centre on Thursday, January 15.

Either Owen Williams, council chief executive or Gillian Bishop, deputy chief executive, will be at the forum to talk about the plans.

The Boundary Committee is required to recommend at least two options for for new local government structures.

As part of the review called by the Government, the Boundary Committee cannot propose to retain existing local government structures, it must propose unitary authorities for Lancashire.

Rossendale Council has expressed a preferred option of joining with neighbours Burnley and Pendle and taking on services provided by Lancashire County Council, including Social Services and education.

The second option would be to combine Blackburn with Darwen with Burnley, Pendle, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley and part of Rossendale.

A third option would combine Burnley, Pendle and part of Rossendale.

Rossendale Borough Council will make a formal response to the Boundary Committee after it has gauged public feelings.

People are urged to attend the meeting which starts at 7pm.