STAGECOACH has secured the top job in the new board of Burnley and Pendle Transport.

North West boss Brian Hinckley is chairman of the new board of directors, but Burnley Council leader Kath Reade said there was no casting vote and decisions would be voted on equally by the six members of the board.

After months of wrangling, the two sides have met and non-executive members have been appointed.

Burnley's directors are former councillor Ken McGeorge, Coun Peter Kenyon and Coun Stuart Caddy.

Earlier this year the bus giant paid £2m to Pendle Council for its half of the jointly owned municipal bus company.

But now the board has been agreed and has held its first meeting, Pendle's chance of getting an extra £850,000, promised if Burnley Council agreed to sell its share within two years, is fading. Coun Reade said the first meeting was a preliminary one and would lead to further discussions.

Stagecoach is yet to outline its investment plans for the company.

Coun Reade added: "We have got to take it step by step.

"We have got to be doing our best to protect the viability of the company and I have no idea how it is going to develop.

"Burnley Council has achieved its objective which was to keep its ownership stake in public transport and not agree to some kind of sale."

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