A COUNCILLOR told a public meeting that a new government scheme aimed at excellence in local authorities "smacked of Chairman Mao."

Graham Sowter told Ribble Valley Council's policy and finance committee that the Government's Beacon Council Scheme would cause confusion "akin to Mao's cultural upheaval of China." The scheme is at the heart of government plans to modernise local government, by establishing best-practice 'beacon' councils. The committee decided that Ribble Valley Council would not apply for beacon status.

Coun Sowter called on the committee to reject the scheme out-of-hand and said it would cause confusion.

He said: "It smacks of Chairman Mao.

"It's like the cultural upheaval of China.

"All it will do is leave people confused and we should avoid it at all cost."

Local authorities are being invited to apply for beacon status in time for the scheme's official launch later this year.

The Government wants all councils to take part, by being beacons, visiting beacons, or by participating in activities with beacon councils to spread best practice.

Up to 40 councils will be awarded beacon status and a national programme to spread best practice will be coordinated by the Local Government Improvement and Development Agency.

The beacon councils would act as a test bed for new legislation promoting the scheme for the social, economic and environmental well-being of communities, the meeting heard.

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