BURNLEY Council's Labour leader Kath Reade has narrowly survived a bid to oust her from power.

Her challenger and former deputy group leader, Coun Stuart Caddy, decided not to seek re-election as deputy leader or group chairman after his bid for the leadership failed.

The result was said to have been "quite close''.

The group's annual meeting yesterday lasted a mammoth five and a half hours, about 90 minutes longer than usual.

Later, it was said that Coun Phil Bilham, housing chairman, and Coun Caddy's wife, Gail, housing vice chairman, had resigned in protest over the leadership issue.

Both denied that, saying they had chosen not to stand in order to spend more time in their wards.

Housing chairman for the past five years, Coun Bilham said: "I chose not to stand for personal reasons. I felt I needed to spend more time in the ward. "I like working in the ward; I like Barclay ward a tremendous amount and you cannot do both.''

Gail Caddy said: "It was our choice to spend more time working in the ward. It is not a split in the group.''

Stuart Caddy was not available for comment and Coun Reade left the meeting to attend a wedding.

New deputy group leader is Paul Smith, former chairman of the Contract Services Committee.

Peter Kenyon continues as secretary and Pat Bennett who returns to the council after success at last week's elections takes over as chairman.

Wendy Croft and Beryl Barnes are assistant secretaries and Les Harrison deputy chairman.

Taking over as housing chairman is Rafique Malik, the former long serving councillor who was re-elected for Daneshouse ward last week. Donald Hall is vice chairman.

Philip Walsh is chairman of the Public Protection Committee in place of Ken McGeorge who has retired after many years on the council. Paul Swainston, mayor elect, is vice chairman.

John Greenwood and Beryl Barnes continue as chairman and vice chairman of the Planning and Environment Committee.

John Harbour continues as chairman of the Recreation and Leisure Committee with Barry Guttridge as vice chairman.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.