COUNCIL bosses have been accused of mounting a witch hunt against tenants' leaders in Padiham after their newsletter sent town hall feathers flying.

An official letter from a council officer warned Padiham and Hapton area management committee it could be shut down for criticism made by member and Independent Councillor Granville Lord in the newssheet that went out to more than 800 council tenants.

The council letter, leaked to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, told the group it could avoid the ultimate sanctions of withdrawal of recognition and an end to its £9,000-a-year cash funding by seeking the resignation or suspension of Coun Lord from the committee.

The revelation follows a decision by Burnley housing committee on Wednesday to seek an explanation from the management committee on its cash spending after claims of extravagance and demands for the body to be suspended and investigated.

But today Coun Lord, who quit Burnley's ruling Labour group to join the Independents, claimed both the spending issue and the newssheet row were part of a witch hunt against the committee generally and him personally.

He said: "I have never seen such a disgraceful letter in my life and I am demanding an apology."

The official newssheet contained a letter from Coun Lord slamming the "financial farce" policies of Burnley and Padiham Housing.

The newssheet which also contained a front page article from the committee telling residents they would be well down the pecking order for home improvements under the new set up, resulted in the letter being sent to management committee chairman Mark Graham from the council's tenant participation officer Sally Shaw.

In it she says that by allowing Coun Lord's letter to be published , the AMC would be seen as in breach of its constitution which stated it was a non-political organisation. Chairman of Burnley and Padiham Community Housing Wynn McGeorge, had written to the council's chief executive Roger Ellis asking what action the council intended to take following the comments, says Miss Shaw.

It goes on: "Obviously the ultimate sanction would be to cease recognition of the Padiham and Hapton AMC as a representative tenants' organisation and therefore stop any further funding."

In order to avoid the action the AMC needed to be seen to be dealing with the situation and needed to consider action which may involve asking Coun Lord to resign or passing a vote of no confidence in him.

In addition Miss Shaw requests that draft proofs of newsletters are submitted to council officers for vetting in future.

Mr Graham today declined to comment on the letter issue.

Miss Shaw failed to return the Evening Telegraph's calls over a three-day period.

Her boss, Margaret Duthie, head of Burnley council housing management said she was unable to comment because Mr Ellis' investigation into the newsletter reports was still ongoing.

Today Coun Lord said the AMC had discussed the matter and given him a reprimand.

He added: " I stand fully behind the views I expressed. People should know the facts."

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