RESIDENTS in Hyndburn have been promised they will not face a council tax increase next year by Conservative boss Peter Britcliffe.

The Tory council leader's announcement was met with derision by Labour members, who shook their heads and called the claim "ludicrous" at a meeting of the policy and resources committee.

But, echoing US President George Bush, Coun Britcliffe stated: "We are not going to put council tax up next year - watch my lips."

The pledge came during a debate on changes to Hyndburn Council's committee structure.

The Tories have decided to scrap the environmental services committee and introduce several new ones such as transportation and highways, cleansing and public health and a markets board.

But Labour called on Coun Britcliffe to explain how the restructuring would save money instead of eating up more of the budget.

Coun Lesley Jackson said: "I can see nothing that will save money. You are setting up more committees with more chairmen and vice chairmen to be paid."

Coun Bernard Dawson said: "I find it incredible how you can justify these changes when you are talking about saving money and no rate rise."

Coun Dave Massey claimed the committees would have to be changed again by spring 2001 in line with proposed government legislation on modernising local authorities and labelled the tax announcement "ludicrous".

But Coun Britcliffe said the abolished housing and environment committees had been replaced by smaller committees. He claimed all costs would be covered by the existing budget and meetings would take place back-to-back to save paying officers overtime.

He added: "We are committed to modernisation at the Labour government's request. It's essential we all work in good faith to do some fine tuning.

"Our priorities are regeneration and cleansing of the borough to attract more people to Hyndburn.

"A nought per cent increase is something you never managed while you were in control and last year you put tax up four-and-a-half times the rate of inflation."

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