A VISION of the future where residents can quiz council officers over video phones has been unveiled by Pendle's ruling Liberal administration.

Councillors accept the vision is still some way off, but say technology that would allow such a scheme is developing fast.

How the high-tech project will be funded is a major concern and one that will have to be tackled before it ever goes ahead.

"We look forward to people being able to go to the local Pendle Council office, get general help and advice, and then talk face-to-face with specialist council officers through video phone links, and even have documents displayed or sent via the computer network," explained Barnoldswick councillor David Whipp.

"The technology is developing fast and the council's new telephone system will be an important step forward to allow this kind of service."

The council hopes to get an initial report on developing computer-based "One Stop Shops" after next month's local elections. If a pilot scheme is needed it is likely to be in West Craven, the area furthest away from the main council departments in Nelson and Colne.

Councillor Allan Buck, chairman of the council's Brierfield and Reedley committee, said: "A pilot scheme may be the way forward and full implementation will not happen quickly. "But this is the way we want to go. We want a real Pendle presence in Brierfield which gives locals the service they had when Brierfield was an urban district, and better."

The overall project aims to give people better access to council officials and to upgrade council outlying offices in Brierfield and West Craven where residents often feel cut off from the main council offices.

Coun Whipp added: "We want people to be able to go to their local Pendle Council office, such as those in Barnoldswick and Earby, and get all the help and advice they need.

"We are looking to create a 'one stop shop' in each office."

The Liberals say converting them to "one stop shops" would not incur a great cost. Funding a scheme may be difficult given the spending cuts the council is having to consider over the coming 12 months.

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