A 'SUPER' race harmony group is planned for East Lancashire, following the turmoil surrounding the racial equality council in Burnley and Pendle.

It will mean the creation of a single equality council covering the present Burnley and Pendle and Hyndburn and Rossendale REC areas. It will also bring in Ribble Valley, which will split from Blackburn, which will have its own borough-wide REC as a unitary local authority outside county control.

Burnley and Pendle REC collapsed after the commission for Racial Equality, county, and the local councils withdrew £130,000 of funding earlier this year, following months of turmoil and in-fighting within the organisation.

The action came after the ruling executive refused demands that it stand down and hold new elections.

Since then, the Nelson-based REC has run as a voluntary organisation, but recently received a £12,000 cash grant from Pendle Council, which was always opposed to funding withdrawal. The East Lancashire-wide proposals, going for approval to the county's policy and resources committee on Thursday, allow for Pendle to opt out of the arrangement.

An officer's report says that at a joint meeting, county, Burnley council and Commission representatives agreed that "as there was little or no likelihood of a resolution of the REC's internal difficulties," an alternative East Lancashire REC structure would be pursued.

The report states that Pendle representatives noted rather than supported the move and that an officers' group representing the funding bodies was drawing up detailed proposals.

The model was intended to centre on Accrington and would initially be managed by a steering committee of funders' representatives.

County councillors are also being asked to approve an extra £2,000 grant to Blackburn REC for the current year to meet extra costs.

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