EMPTY houses in Burnley and Padiham could soon be home to more asylum seekers as councillors seek greater influence over where they are housed.

Burnley Council's policy committee is considering whether to join a local authority consortium to provide housing for asylum seekers.

Since April, all councils have had a duty to help the government by providing temporary housing for people whose claims for asylum are being considered by the Home Office. The costs are paid by the government.

Some asylum seekers have recently been placed in the Burnley and Pendle area under Home Office contracts with the private sector, but neither council has been consulted about where these people have been rehoused. Officers are recommending the council joins the North West Consortium for Services to Asylum Seekers to give it more influence over where asylum seekers are to be rehoused in the borough.

They believe that the money spent on the properties to be used for asylum seekers could help with area regeneration if it is properly targeted.

Steve Tilly, Burnley Council's housing options manager, said: "The Home Office is looking to send asylum seekers to Burnley and other parts of East Lancashire -- because of the numbers of properties in the area.

"At the moment, the council has no influence over where these asylum seekers will be rehoused.

"Joining the consortium will give the council control over the rehousing of people sent to Burnley under the consortium's contract with the Home Office."

If the council decides to join the consortium, officers will be looking as the role that private landlords, housing associations and Burnley and Padiham Community Housing may want to play in a contract with the Home Office.