COUNCIL bosses in East Lancashire have launched a legal bid to claw back money taken by the government to fund academies.

Blackburn with Darwen Council revealed yesterday that it is one of 23 local authorities fighting to get back its share of £148million for academies that have not opened.

The council lost £467,000 to central government’s scheme, and believes the sum was ‘unfair’ and disproportionate’ as no academies had opened in the borough.

According to the council, the knock-on effect has led to the same services, including human resources, admissions and special needs, being provided to all schools on a smaller budget.

The Local Government Association launched the challenge for a judicial review against ministers on the back of legal advice which said the government had acted unfairly and unreasonably in taking money for the scheme.

Following the election, the coalition government pursued its plans to shake up education.

As part of its reforms, outstanding and good schools, as rated by OFSTED, were invited to convert to academies.

Under the scheme, schools were given greater freedoms over the curriculum, their budgets and admissions policies.

But funding was needed to implement the scheme, which the government obtained by taking cash from each local authority.

Chief executive Graham Burgess, of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “I can confirm we have launched a legal challenge with other councils in the country.

“We believe there is an unfair and disproportionate cut in funding which has had an impact on children’s services in Blackburn with Darwen.”

Blackpool is also challenging the government’s actions, but Lancashire County Council is not.