THE new co-owners of Burnley and Pendle's bus company look to have won their battle for more influence in how the firm is run.

Councillors were expected last night (Wednesday) to vote in favour of giving bus giant Stagecoach a third of the seats on the board of the local transport company.

Burnley council, which owns the other half of the company, will tell Stagecoach that it must come up with a business plan before new company rules are drawn up.

Council leader Kath Reade said: "We have put the decision forward that Stagecoach appoints three directors to the new board so we can get on with running the company.

"Appointing a board is simply a stage in negotiations to get the company sorted out so we can run on a partnership basis."

The council's legal chief, Roger Hutchinson, said the council would agree to rewrite the company's constitution, "subject to the condition that Stagecoach produces proposals for a timetable for a business plan.

"We would hope that this would be done quickly. Members are concerned that the company is drifting."

But independent councillor Harry Brooks said: "I think we should accept Stagecoach's offer of £2.85 million and sell our half.

"The dividends we receive from Burnley and Pendle amount to less than half the interest we could get on £2.85 million."

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