A COUNCILLOR is facing a grilling after branding town hall employees 'a load of rubbish.'

Paul Browne, who represents Sudell ward in Darwen, outlined his dissatisfaction with Blackburn with Darwen Council after it launched a new customer service award.

Awards are due to be handed out to members of staff after nominations were sought from inside the council.

Speaking in the Evening Telegraph, Liberal Democrat Coun Browne said the council did not ask residents for their verdict because: "People will tell them exactly what they think -- that's that they are a load of rubbish."

Unison, the union which represents some of the council's workforce wrote to the Chief Executive of Blackburn with Darwen demanding Coun Browne be hauled before a standards board. And leader Sir Bill Taylor has called for him to withdraw his comments in a letter informing Coun Browne of the move.

Today Colin Rigby, Conservative leader said: "If he said things like that he has got to stand by them. You can't call 8,000 staff."

But Coun Browne remained unrepentant and insisted he was merely reflecting the opinion of people in his ward. He said: "I am going to stand by what I said and if I have to go before a standards board I will tell then the same thing."

The council recently conducted a customer satisfaction survey and found that only 59 per cent of people were satisfied with the council overall.

A 'mystery shopping' exercise, where the council's customer service performance was examined over the telephone, found that eight out of 11 departments tested had an unacceptable performance. A similar face-to-face exercise showed seven out of 16 were below par.

Don Clarkson, a Unison spokesman, admitted the results were disappointing, but said Coun Browne's comments would damage relations between staff and employers. He added: "We do not think comments from elected members which undermine staff are constructive." Coun Taylor's letter said: "We have many hard-working and dedicated staff in this council, including teachers, care and social services staff, leisure, technical and engineering staff -- over 8,000 people.

"It is important that elected members from all political parties, particularly party leaders, uphold one of this council's core values, which is valuing public employees. Many of our workforce also live in the borough and will be similarly dismayed by your comments."