BURNLEY'S leading councillors are set to hold talks on a new Regional Assembly that could put them out of a job.

The council's executive committee are due to meet on Wednesday to discuss the latest plans to bring devolved government to the north west.

The region is one of of three selected by the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to hold referenda on the introduction of a Regional Assembly.

If voters in Cheshire, Cumbria and Lancashire opt for a new assembly, new councils will replace Burnley Borough Council and Lancashire County Council.

The chief executive of Burnley Borough Council, Gillian Taylor, has voiced her support for the programme, which she said would benefit the town.

Lancashire County Councillors, whose authority would be replaced by an East Lancashire council, have voiced concerns and are set to campaign against a Regional Assembly in the run up to a referendum.

A Burnley Council report said: "The council's stated position is to support the creation of both a regional assembly for the North-West and unitary local government for East Lancashire."

Before any referendum can take place the government has asked its Boundary Committee to find two options for a single council for areas, like Burnley, where district and county councils exist.

The report adds: "The government feels there will be a need for a mature and sensible debate in each locality about the unitary structures that offer the best options and solutions for local people.

"The government attaches importance to all the local authorities concerned, engaging constructively with each other and with the Boundary Committee. It says that while recognising the pressures local authorities under review can face, the Government is clear the priority for councils everywhere remains the delivery of quality services locally and providing strong and effective community leadership."

The proposals are due to be discussed at a meeting of the council's executive committee.