RESIDENTS will get an opportunity to put members of the Burnley Task Force under the spotlight at an extraordinary meeting to be held next week.

The first part of the special meeting of Burnley Borough Council will offer people the chance to quiz members of the force set up in the wake of the disturbances in the town last year.

Councillors at the meeting in the James Hargreaves suite at Burnley Football Club's Turf Moor ground, will then discuss the content of the report, which looked into the causes of the riots which shocked the town.

The public are also invited to stay to observe the council debate which will follow the question and answer session, when members are set to discuss the recommendations the Task Force report made to the council.

The report criticises the council for what it calls a "lack of overall strategic political vision" and the poor quality of debate among members at full council meetings.

Recommendations include the setting up of a corporate communications unit and a re-think of staffing and organisation.

After the launch of the report, in December last year, the leader of Burnley Council, Stuart Caddy, said that he accepted the criticism and that he would do all in his power to meet the recommendations.

Coun Caddy said: "This meeting is an opportunity for the general public to discuss the findings of the report directly with the Task Force.

"The report is the culmination of a lot of hard work which has been actively supported by the residents of Burnley.

"The council is considering the report very carefully and will be publicly debating it at this meeting.

"We cannot, however, work alone. We must all work together to take Burnley forward and build a better future for all."

The public question and answer session at the meeting, on Wednesday, January 30, will be between 6.30 and 7.30pm.

At the meeting, copies of a Task Force summary and an action plan will be made available.