officials have been accused of ignoring democracy to ensure they meet the 2008 deadline for Darwen's new Academy.

Now councillors have demanded changes to their authority's constitution to make sure it cannot happen again.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's policy and review committee -- which acts as a watchdog over ruling Labour decisions -- called in plans to make new compulsory purchase orders to buy the land for the Academy.

But the move was over-ruled to guarantee funding from the Government.

The council's all-powerful Labour executive originally approved plans for the CPOs in September but was forced to reissue them after they were incorrect.

Normally, any executive board decision is open to 'call in' by backbench councillors for 10 days.

But the committee's Labour chairman Coun Ron O'Keeffe used rule 15, allowing the council to bypass the call-in period, effectively banning open discussion about a decision.

Sayeed Ossman, assistant director of regeneration, told the policy and review committee, said: "We are working to very tight timescales and other interested parties, including the Department for Education and Skills, wanted assurances their investment would not be at risk and we would not miss the 2008 opening.

"Having the call-in would have delayed when we could have put the notices out to people about the pending compulsary purchase, and that would have had a knock-on effect should there be a public inquiry."

Labour councillor Jim Shorrock said: "It appears we have a situation where people from outside can put pressure on us to take decisions without allowing us to discuss them fully.

"Our constitution allows this to happen, and while the chairman of policy and review did nothing wrong in allowing the call-in to be bypassed, I think we need to change the constitution."