BLACKBURN councillor Peter Greenwood travelled to No.10 Downing street to discuss partnerships between local and national government with Prime Minister John Major.

Coun Greenwood, chairman of the Association of District Councils, was part of a delegation of local government leaders who called on Mr Major to honour earlier promises to support and co-operate with local government.

"We urged the Government to revitalise democracy through a closer partnership with local government," said Coun Greenwood.

"Local government has a powerful role to play in achieving a better quality of life for the people it serves and in benefiting the national economy.

"We want the Government to recognise all that we can offer and to work in partnership with us for the benefit of everyone,."

The delegation told Mr Major it was essential for local democracy to be developed and strengthened over the next decade.

It called for a programme of change to raise turnout to elections and increase the access and influence citizens have over their councils.

Mr Major said he "strongly supported" the proposal for central and local government to research how local democracy could be strengthened in Britain.

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