REGAINING control of Pendle Council will be the first priority of the borough's Liberal Democrats during the coming months.

They stated this clear aim at their annual meeting when it was said that the council was becoming less and less democratic.

Liberal leader Coun Alan Davies said: "It's more and more a one-man band. Individual representatives are finding their influence eroded."

"Next year, we must ensure we are in a position to change all that."

Nelson member Coun Safdar Hussain told the meeting that many schemes in place when the Liberal Democrats ran the council were being neglected.

Lord Tony Greaves pointed out that all council seats were up for election next May and it was opportunity to gain seats from Labour.

West Craven member David Whipp said one of the campaign messages should be clear and simple -- scrap the present system and put in place a more open, democratic and accessible way of running the council.

Encouraged by success in the council by-election, local elections, an improvement in the General Election vote and an increase in membership, members agreed a strategy that would put regaining control of Pendle Council as the first priority for the coming months.

New officers for the local party were also decided at the meeting with Edna Bell elected President, Lord Greaves chairman, Tim Haigh political vice-chairman and Jamil Munir campaigns vice-chairman. Martin Thornton was appointed secretary, Alison Whipp re-elected treasurer and Dorothy Lord confirmed as membership secretary.