TWO councils have unveiled plans to reform the way they operate.

Both Ribble Valley Borough Council and Hyndburn Council are set to adopt new political structures as they fall in line with new government procedures which ordered councils to shape up for the 21st century.

Because both councils have relatively small populations, the government gave them four styles to choose from.

They were:

A cabinet made up of members of the ruling group plus a council leader;

A directly-elected mayor -- like in London and New York -- with a cabinet made up of members of the ruling group;

A directly-elected mayor with a council manager appointed to oversee the day-to-day running of the council;

Alternative arrangements, such as streamlining the existing committee structure.

Following public consultation which included adverts in newspapers and presentations at meetings of its area councils, Hyndburn has opted to follow the leader and cabinet model, which it has been practising for a year now.

Members of Hyndburn's Youth Council and the borough's Voice Box Panel -- a group of 1,000 people picked to accurately represent the borough in surveys -- were also asked for their opinions.

A spokesman for the council admitted response to the consultation had been low. Even members of council staff had failed to have their say, with just 12 per cent responding to letters sent to them.

Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "The new-look council will be fully accountable and decisions will be taken more quickly.

"Any decisions made can be challenged by a scrutiny committee and the public will have an even bigger say through the area councils we have introduced."

In Ribble Valley, the council has decided to follow a streamlined committee system, which should result in committees merging so fewer meetings are held.

The move has the support of the area's parish councils.

Chief executive David Morris said: "We believe this is the best way forward for Ribble Valley and have made every effort to ensure the public have been consulted."