BURNLEY Council has won a bid to take part in a key government project to modernise the services it provides to the people of the borough.

A special government task force will visit the town next month to begin work on the scheme.

The project is part of the government's Pathfinder programme involving other councils and organisations in East Lancashire in a more joined-up innovative way of delivering services.

The first phase, known as the strategic service delivery partnership, will look at e-government to explore ways of making council services and decision making available to local people electronically.

Chief executive Dr Gillian Taylor said: "Burnley Council is committed to making real and lasting improvements to the way it provides services to the people of the borough.

"Winning this bid is not only a vote of confidence from government in that commitment but it will also enhance the best expertise available to make council services better, more responsive and more accessible."

Burnley's joint bid with local partners, Pendle, Ribble Valley, Rossendale, East Lancashire Health Authority and its successor primary care Trust, East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and East Lancashire Partnership, was one of 24 successful bids across the whole of England.

The Department for Local Government Transport and the Regions have set up the task force which will be in Burnley in April.

Dr Alan Whitehead MP is to chair the advisory board overseeing the project. He said: "Strategic partnering has a vital role to play in the achievement of best value for the delivery of local services.

"The programme will help build capacity within individual councils and encourage joint working and service delivery across councils and the wide public sectors."