Sudell councillor Paul Browne hits out over board meeting ‘bias’

But he called for it to visit the town more often.

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The Liberal Democrat said the council’s failure to hold regular meetings of its ruling body there, was an example of the Blackburn bias of its senior figures.

Next Thursday’s meeting at Darwen Vale High School is the first in the town since January 2012 and only the second since 2008.

At the time then borough leader Kate Hollern promised two meetings a year in Darwen.

New Blackburn with Darwen council leader Mohammed Khan last night promised to try and hold two executive boards in the town annually in future.

Cllr Browne said: “Of course I welcome holding an executive board in Darwen.

“There are plenty of good venues in the town – the town hall where the last meeting was held, the library theatre and the academy.

“We should have at least two more meetings in Darwen before the end of the council year in March.

“The lack of executive board meetings in Darwen just shows that its members, who are all from Blackburn, put Blackburn above the town.

“When she was leader, and before she became Blackburn MP, Kate Hollern promised two meetings a year but nothing happened.

“That’s typical of her – fine words but no action.

“It is appalling we only have a meeting in Darwen every few years.”

Cllr Smith said: “There are logistical difficulties and costs involved in holding the meetings in Darwen and getting all the officers and paperwork there.

“It’s not true the borough does not care about the town.

“However I would like to see at least two meetings of the Executive Board a year in Darwen.”

Cllr Khan said: “I am really pleased we are holding this meeting of the Executive Board at Darwen Vale.

“I want to honour the agreement made to hold two meetings a year of this board in Darwen.”

Mrs Hollern said: “I am delighted to see another meeting in Darwen.

“The borough organises many other meetings in the town but unfortunately, Cllr Browne does not manage to attend all of them.”