SPARE a thought for the taxpayers in Rossendale whose high-spending council has been branded the worst in the country.

While Rossendale smarts from the condemnation of the Government's value-for-money watchdog and is ranked 237th out of 237 similar councils over the way it delivers its services, did not one of its major criticisms give us a telling insight into the workings of modern-day local government there and elsewhere?

Namely, how its accountability has been eroded. Rossendale, it seems, was, in effect, run by just two people - as the chief executive and former council leader got together at weekly meetings to sort things out.

What of all the other councillors - drawing handsome expenses all the while, too - and publicly-paid council officials excluded from running of the valley's affairs? And what of democracy?

Well, just how much removed is this elitist set-up - leading to the Rossendale mess - removed from the system of cabinet-style rule that pervades local government?

Not much, if you ask me.

The new set-up may have sidelined

many windbag councillors, but maybe it has done the same for accountability.