BURNLEY Council leader Gordon Birtwistle has welcomed the views of his Pendle counterpart on the future of local government in East Lancashire.

Local authorities across Lancashire are considering their options following the recent Government White paper proposing major changes to how local services are provided in future.

Last week Pendle Council's executive backed plans to explore the possibility of a new "super council" covering Burnley and Pendle.

Burnley Council's executive is considering the issue today and is being asked to approve a similar recommendation by Steve Rumbelow, the council's chief executive.

The White Paper sets out two options: a unitary council for the area to manage and deliver all local council services or a modified two-tier structure under which it is likely that more local services currently provided by Burnley Council would be managed and delivered from a central county-wide administrative centre in Preston.

The Government has said that in areas like East Lancashire, where borough and county councils provide different services, keeping things as they are is not an option.

Coun Birtwistle said: "This is a complex issue but the basic question local people have to ask themselves is this - do they want a local council based on their doorsteps, which would have a bigger say on how local decisions are made, or do they want decisions that effect their lives being made in Preston by an authority covering the whole of Lancashire?

"Burnley can't stand alone. We have to team up with at least one neighbouring area to create a large enough authority to be able to manage and provide a full range of services including education, highways and social services as well as the ones we are already responsible for.

Burnley Council chief executive Steve Rumbelow said: "It is essential that we explore all the options open to us. While we recognise that each area has its own individual needs, Burnley and Pendle also share common challenges and common goals and by working together we could streamline services and build on our strengths to bring lasting benefits to residents across Burnley and Pendle."