LIBERAL Democrat councillors have written to Pendle Council's opposition leaders demanding they let them get on with running the council following a row between the parties over the allocation of seats on the executive committee.

The rumpus over whether the Liberal Democrats should have five of the ten seats on the Executive led to the group refusing to nominate any of their members to the top committee.

It resulted in Labour claiming four of the seats and Conservatives claiming two, as well as Coun Alan Davies threatening to resign as leader if the situation was not rectified.

Liberal group chairman, Coun David Whipp, said he had written to both Coun Frank Clifford, leader of the Labour group, and Coun Tony Beckett, leader of the Conservative group, telling them they had one week to change their minds and let the Liberals take charge.

But Coun Clifford said neither he nor Coun Beckett had yet received the letter but had seen a copy sent via the chief executive.

He said: "When I do get it I will obviously duly and properly consider what they are asking for but I do have to say that it was their choice not to put anyone forward for the Executive.

"The council decided that it wanted a 4-3-3 Executive believing that was the fairest disposition based upon no-one having overall control. The electors did not deliver an administration for the Liberal Democrats, they delivered a hung council, so we reflected that.

"We had already elected Alan Davies as leader of the borough council and now he needs to get on with it."

Coun Beckett said: "The point is that we believe that the way the Executive was voted was the most equal way of power sharing because no particular party was given overall control. It means that two parties would have to agree to something rather than if we had gone with the Lib Dem proposal where they would have been able to pass everything because they would have the casting vote.

"Subsequently Coun Davies said he would not use his casting vote but he did not say that before the 5-3-2 motion was proposed. It was agreed at the full council and only the full council can alter it."

Coun Whipp, said: "Pendle voters made their wishes clear on May 1. Liberal Democrats won two thirds of the seats with 5,000 more votes than any other party. Labour didn't win a single seat. Our mandate is clear. We want to get on with sorting Pendle Council out.

"Liberals are furious that Labour and Conservatives are conspiring to frustrate the wishes of Pendle people. It's time for yesterday's men to move over and make way for a new administration."

In his letter, Coun Whipp asked Labour and Conservative leaders to stop blocking Liberal Democrats and agree to his group filling it's rightful share of places.

He suggested that a formal protocol should be drawn up to cover relationships between the groups and allow Liberal Democrat leader Coun Davies to take over as leader of the council.