MOVES to create an East Lancashire-wide racial equality council have taken a major step forward.

Representatives from the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), the county council and Hyndburn, Rossendale, Burnley and Pendle borough councils have formed a steering group to form the new REC organisation.

It will will take over the duties of the former individual RECs that covered each area. The 15 members of the steering group were chosen because of their experience, interest and expertise in the field of race relations.

The group will meet regularly and complete all the groundwork before the new East Lancashire REC is launched.

It will draw up a programme of work, agree a constitution and decide on staffing and office accommodation.

The REC is expected to be based in Pendle because of the area's high ethnic population, and the steering group's first meeting was held at Nelson Town Hall.

Eric Seward, regional manager with the CRE, said: "There is all-round agreement that an REC covering East Lancashire is the best way forward to promote good race equality practice, support ethnic minority communities and deal with cases of racial harassment.

"We have much work to do but we are all determined to have the new REC running as quickly as possible."

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