TORIES have attacked a decision to adopt a new style of local government at a council -- claiming it places too much power with too few people.

The Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Coun John Williams, was among those who voted against the new constitution after all bar one of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat amendments were rejected by the ruling Labour group.

Instead of the old committee structure, all power will revolve around a new cabinet system, with eight councillors each having responsibility for key areas.

All councils were given either three or four options for reform, depending on their size by the Government, which claimed current council systems were not accountable to the public.

Smaller councils were offered the chance to streamline their committee system, while all councils were offered systems involving elected mayors, a council leader and appointed council manager or a council leader plus cabinet.

The cabinet system has been tested in Blackburn for the last 18 months and members of the public were asked their opinions on which system they preferred.

It has now been officially adopted as the new system.

But Coun David Foster said: "We oppose the way in which decision-making is being centralised and put into fewer hands. We want to see local people having a greater say in what goes on in their areas.

"Area committees would have allowed them a bigger say. The majority of councils who have changed systems have adopted some kind of area committees."

Leader of the council, Coun Bill Taylor, said: "We wanted to try changes early and learn lessons from them to help inform the decision that we have now made in consultation with local people, businesses, partner organisations, voluntary and community groups - to introduce the leader with a cabinet model.

"Our new constitution is based on Listening, Openness, Clarity and Accountability and Inclusiveness."