TONIGHT Blackburn with Darwen Council holds its quarterly forum where leading figures in the ruling group present reports detailing the work carried out in the areas covered by their portfolios.

At the same meeting opposition councillors get the opportunity to have important decisions and issues discussed - and justified if necessary - in public.

But if the tonight's meeting follows past form there will be no debate on important matters like the continuing benefits backlog, problems involving asylum seekers being sent to the borough, delays to statues in Church Street or plans for a state-aided Muslim faith school which split the Labour executive board.

Since only subjects raised in portfolio holders' reports can be discussed at forum meetings opposition councillors complain that they are effectively gagged.

Leader Coun Bill Taylor says what they choose to include in their reports is up to executive members.

That may be correct but it does appear a culture has grown up in which those reports merely record positive news and sidestep controversial matters - perhaps to avoid any potentially embarrassing debate.

A report which does not mention plans for a faith school, for example, surely does not give a complete picture of education matters in the borough during the past three months.

Electors deserve public justification of policy and decisions being made in their name - rather than merely being given the result of votes behind closed doors.