COUNCIL chiefs in Pendle want town and parish councils to take over a host of services and facilities to save money.

Bus shelters, play areas and multi-use games areas and town centre CCTV are among those that the council hopes will be off-loaded next year.

At a meeting on Monday, councillors are also expected to suggest that the Discover Pendle Centre, Colne Council Shop and Fence Village Hall are also transferred to town and parish councils later in the year, as well as indoor and outdoor markets, car parks, picnic sites and town centre sweeping.

The council has to save £1.2million this year, followed by £1m the year after and another £1m the year after that. Between 2010 and 2017, Pendle Council’s annual budget has been cut from £17.5m to £11m.

Leader of the council, Coun Joe Cooney said: “Town and parish councils are already taking on more responsibilities in their areas, for example, for events and festive decorations.

“There is scope for them to take on more and some have a real appetite for this. Transfers of community centres and public toilets to a number of town and parish councils are already well underway.

“It’s time to put this on a firmer footing by working on a programme of possible future transfers over the next two years. This will help us avoid increasing Pendle’s council tax.”

The approach to discuss possible transfers has the backing of all political parties on the council.

Coun Tony Greaves, deputy leader of the council and Liberal Democrat group leader, said: “The government is forcing Pendle Council to cut its spending by half and there is no way that it can continue to pay for everything it does now.

“Passing some services to town and parish councils means they can be looked after more locally and helps us make savings.It will also help to keep things going in the future if councils like Pendle are joined up under much larger unitary authorities based in places many miles away.”

Coun Mohammed Iqbal, leader of the Labour Party at Pendle Council, added: “We are keen to protect local services and facilities in a climate of continuing cut-backs. This approach could make a real difference for Pendle.”