A BURNLEY Council Labour chief today said he was taking legal advice after a rival branded him "Group Commandant Oberfuhrer" and council leader Stuart Caddy a "Senior Underfuhrer."

Labour group secretary Peter Kenyon said a spoof letter from Independent Group leader Harry Brooks to all councillors, two weeks before the Holocaust Remembrance events, was grossly offensive.

He said he had sent an official complaint to council chief executive Dr Gillian Taylor, accusing Coun Brooks of being in breach of the council's code of conduct.

Today Coun Brooks described Coun Kenyon's complaints as "nonsense" and said his satirical letter to councillors about plans to set up an all-party executive to run Burnley Council was fully justified.

He said: "I will be making a counter complaint against against Coun Kenyon." The row was sparked by a letter from Coun Kenyon to all councillors inviting expressions of interest in cabinet posts in the proposed new-style council and chairmanships in the power-sharing set-up.

Coun Brooks opposes Labour's proposals which he sees as a recipe for Labour keeping complete control in a cabinet supported by "nodding dog" members from other parties. He wrote to councillors offering them "a more light-hearted alternative formulation" in a send-up of Coun Kenyon's letter.

His letter invites applications for "underfuhrer positions" in the new executive -- with minority party members required to swear an oath of allegiance to the policies of the Labour Group as recorded by "Group Commandant Oberfuhrer Kenyon."

It adds: "No particular qualifications are required for these appointments, although a very low vote in recent elections will be deemed an advantage. Emphasis will be placed on the ability to keep secrets, particularly where public confidence may be affected by indiscretion."

In his cover note to councillors, Coun Brooks says it was Labour's obvious intention not to have political balance and accused the party of proposing self-serving political secrecy.

He adds the notion of submitting expressions of interest for consideration by the Labour Group was unacceptable in principle.

In his letter to Dr Taylor, Coun Kenyon says Coun Brooks' charges are wholly unjustified and adds: "I would hope that you can ensure that the council's code of conduct is followed and that members treat one another seriously and with fairness, not offensive behaviour."

Coun Brooks said today there were many serious issues involved in the future running of the council and he would be putting forward alternatives to the Labour proposals.

Dr Taylor was unavailable to comment.