Opposition councillors are taking credit for a major shake-up which will give them more say in decision-making at Blackpool Council.

Councillors have agreed changes to the way the council is run which will see opposition councillors handed the chair of five key 'scrutiny' committees.

The committees are currently chaired by members of the ruling Labour group and have come under fire for failing to adequately challenge decisions made by the council's executive cabinet.

Liberal Democrat leader, Cllr Robert Wynne, said the changes had come about as a 'direct result' of his decision to resign from his post as the only opposition cabinet member earlier this year.

"I had a meeting with the chief executive and the council leader who were both quite shocked by my resignation. I told them that scrutiny was the biggest thing that needed improving and that is what has come about.

"We're going to try and be constructive and make it work and, hopefully, the other opposition parties will do the same and we'll get more checks on what goes on as a result." He ruled out a return to the cabinet.

Conservative leader, Cllr Peter Callow, dismissed Cllr Wynne's claims and said the council was falling into line with demands made by Conservatives over several years. "We believe they are happening as a result of our pressure, allied with the fact that they fall within Government guidelines.

"If I am being fair to council leader Cllr Roy Fisher I would say it is a brave move on his part. Up until now we have had the ludicrous situation of Labour portfolio holders and a Labour cabinet taking decisions which were then scrutinised by Labour scrutiny committees. But these committees will still have a Labour vice-chair and we can still be outvoted."

Changes will also include a reduction in the number of council meetings, from fortnightly to bi-monthly while new 'lead member' posts will work with executive 'portfolio holders' on special areas of responsibility.

Cllr Fisher, said: "It is proposed to offer five of the newly appointed overview and scrutiny committee chairs to opposition parties further strengthening the role of scrutiny and there are also plans for a new health overview and scrutiny committee to reinforce the importance of health issues."

"We are also planning changes to council meetings which, if approved would take place every other month from January 1 2006. At these meetings myself as leader and the portfolio holders would give a full report looking at decisions taken since the last meeting and outlining our plans for the next two months. These reports would be the subject of debate and would once again strengthen the political process in Blackpool."