A REVIEW of the way a council operates is set to be undertaken after complaints that backbench councillors are being sidelined by an all-powerful executive.

But the ruling Labour group at Blackburn with Darwen Council has opposed an opposition move to hold six, rather than four, full council meetings a year which it said would increase the chances for debate in public.

Lib Dems, Conservatives and BNP councillors united to call for two extra meetings a year, claiming Blackburn with Darwen Council's new constitution had left them with virtually no place to discuss issues in public.

All decisions are now taken by an elite executive board made up of mainly Labour councillors.

Many decisions are taken by individual executive board members by themselves, and discussion can only take place if the decision is called in for discussion by backbench overview and scrutiny committees.

Under the old system, all decisions would be debated in public.

Coun David Foster, deputy leader of the Lib Dem, said: "It is quite simple. We do not have the opportunity to discuss matters in public as much any more.

Coun Dave Smith, a Labour councillor, added: "Something does need to be done because full council meetings are going on until 11pm."

Council leader Bill Taylor said: "We are reviewing the structures but the Labour group has decided to vote against this motion because we don't believe it is necessarily the solution."

After the meeting, Conservative leader Colin Rigby said: "The Labour group is determined to stifle public debate.