RESIDENTS from a Burnley neighbourhood blighted by empty houses have urged council bosses to reconsider their decision to reject a government scheme designed to tackle the problem.

Residents group Piccadilly's Moving wants the council to charge the owners of long-term vacant properties the full council tax . They currently get a 50 per cent discount.

The government has given authorities the option to reduce or remove the discount from April 1 2004, as a disincentive for houses to be left empty for long periods of time.

But at a meeting of the council's executive committee earlier this month members voted against the move because it would impact on the council's council tax collection performance, which is measured against national targets.

They also said it would force landlords with a large stock of empty houses to charge more in rent on the properties they let to tenants, which would in turn increase the borough's benefits bill.

But at a meeting of the full council Sarah Green, from Piccadilly's Moving, said the council's decision sent the wrong message to absentee owners and she urged members to reconsider.

Speaking after the meeting she said: "The council is only interested in protecting its collection performance so that it doesn't look bad in the eyes of the government.

"But it should be protecting the people who live in the borough who have to deal with the nightmare of living next to empty houses.

"The council should not be trying to make its own life easier, it should be trying to make our lives easier.

"These houses are draining the town of resources because the council is constantly having to pay for the back yards to be cleared of rubbish, for them to be boarded up and so on."

Sarah said if the money was not paid, the council could recoup the money when the property was sold and added that if there was a large debt on a house the council had the power to go for an enforced sale.

She said: "This would force out these uncaring slum landlords who should never own properties in the town.

Councillor Peter Kenyon, executive member for best value and resources, said: "The executive considered this matter very carefully. We don't believe that increasing the council tax on any property will have the effect that Mrs Green and other residents believe it will.

"It is extremely difficult to anyone in ownership of a long-term vacant property to sell it or find tenants."