THE clock was ticking today on Burnley Council's efforts to find a new leader and administration.

And members of the council have again been warned they are acting illegally by not having an executive.

It came as the council met last night to vote on giving officers more decision-making powers.

The process has effectively been at a standstill since the minority Labour administration resigned last month after a series of motions slashing its numbers.

Party bosses have so far been unable to find a new council leader nor negotiate a mixed party executive.

Nick Aves, the council's monitoring officer whose job includes ensuring the authority meets its legal duties, told councillors they had just a week to sort out the crisis.

Next Wednesday's full council meeting marks one month since the loss of the leader and executive - with both the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the local government watchdog The Audit Commission hovering.

In theory, civil servants could be ordered to take over running the council or the authority could be taken to the High Court for failing to meet statutory duties.

Mr Aves said: "The council decided it was going to adopt a leader and executive but since August 25 there has been no leader or executive in place.

"Therefore the authority is not complying with its statutory responsibilities."

Members agreed to change the council's constitution to give its chief executive, Gillian Taylor, more power.

Ms Taylor said: "The council needs to be able to continue functioning and important decisions have to be made.

"We all need a proper basis for taking decisions. In the absence of a properly constituted executive, those decisions can only be taken by the chief executive."