COUNCIL bosses have pledged to become more accountable to the people of Hyndburn after agreeing the biggest ever shake-up in the way the borough is run.

Councillors have voted in the changes to the council's constitution after two years of planning since Chief Executive Mike Chambers first raised the matter with the then leader Coun Ian Ormerod.

The new system, which replaces the old committee system, comprises a cabinet of 10 Tory councillors, a shadow cabinet of 10 Labour members, two scrutiny committees and area councils, which have already been running for a year.

Planning and licensing committees will carry on as before, with all major decisions now being taken by the cabinet.

The scrutiny committees will be able to refer back a cabinet decision for debate if its members are unhappy and will also be able to compel chief officers, members of outside bodies and cabinet members to speak to them in public.

Mr Chambers said: "The government wants local councils to divide executive functions from the rest of the council so local people will really be able to know who is charge. Just like in parliament, the cabinet will be politically defined.

"It may speed up decision-making but, more importantly, the system will make the council more accountable to the people of Hyndburn.

"The committee system was first set up in the 1880s and has withstood a lot of political pressure over the years. But now it will be more clear to local people who is making the decisions. Because the system is about accountability, I hope it will encourage more people to get involved with their area councils and get out and vote.

But he warned: "But the biggest danger is that people don't understand how the constitution works and that is why we have organised training sessions for members."

Welcoming the changes, leader of the Council Peter Britcliffe: "We are at the end of an era and my message to back bench members who feel they will be excluded is fear not.

"Anyone can speak at cabinet meetings and the area councils will keep everyone busy. There are bound to be teething problems, but whether this succeeds or not is up to us."

Labour leader Ian Ormerod said: "We welcome the changes. Some our older members have served on committees for many years so have mixed feelings, but generally most of us believe it's for the best.

"It's a historic day and overturns 130 years of history".