EXECUTIVE members of Pendle Council are hoping to be given more say over spending on the borough's roads after an agreement with county highways bosses.

The proposals would result in several district and county councils working together with the aim of making things easier for the public to understand, removing duplication and distrust between the two councils, involving districts more in decision making and allowing for better consultation at a local level on highways and transportation issues.

It is hoped that the new arrangements will be in place by June 2003.

Peter Atkinson, Pendle's highways and engineering design manager, said: "This would be a one-stop shop for 95 per cent or more of the works on highway, whatever the work and wherever you live, and Pendle would have more influence on how county spends its money."

But Coun David Whipp, who is also a county councillor, was less enthusiastic about the proposals. He said: "When you look at the details you find there is a local body responsible for things, or an area group or county council group or all three and I think this is one giant mess that is being created for the county council to preserve its position not to improve services for the people in Lancashire and Pendle.

"I think this would be a disaster for the services people get in Pendle and other parts of Lancashire. Not only for the people on the receiving end but also for the providers. The people in the works department on this council now see their jobs going down the road and being provided by some agency partnership agreement that would be accountable to nobody, would be unapproachable and unable to actually respond to local concerns.

"I think we are heading down the road to ruin. I want to know what local influence we will have in this partnership."

Members of Pendle's executive asked for a further report to be brought back to them when more details had been worked out relating to member arrangements, staffing arrangements, financial implications and the role of Pendle's director services operations.

They also asked for a meeting to discuss the proposals further which would be attended by members of the executive, made up of two labour, one conservative and one liberal democrat, the county's environment director Graham Harding and cabinet member for highways and transportation Nora Ward.