BLACKBURN with Darwen Council is spending thousands of pounds supplying tablet computers to all but one of its 64 councillors.

Sudell’s Paul Browne has refused to accept one, even though the Town Hall plans to stop sending paper copies of agendas and documents to elected representatives.

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The Liberal Democrat and former Mayor who is in his 70s has previously refused to accept a computer and mobile phone from the council.

He is the only member of Darwen Town Council who has a printed agenda sent to him, rather than receiving an email copy.

The programme to provide all councillors, except Coun Browne, with tablets was revealed by resources boss Andy Kay at the borough’s full Council Forum on Thursday.

He said: “The roll-out of a new solution for members has commenced, providing a secure connection method for accessing email, other council systems and our own data with a modern PC tablet.”

LibDem leader David Foster revealed his colleague was declining to accept the new devices.

He said after the meeting: “Paul is refusing to have a tablet. He doesn’t have a council computer or a mobile.

“I think using a tablet rather than having printed agendas is the right thing to do.

“The world has moved on, but Paul, who is in his 70s, is not comfortable with this new world.

“If the council won’t send him a printed agenda, I am happy to print them out for him.”

The savings for the Borough’s Democratic services department in printing costs will be £40,000.

Borough finance chiefs believe the investment in the tablets will be paid for by phasing out councillors ageing personal laptop and desktop computers and avoiding the costs of maintaining or replacing them.

Coun Kay said: “The council prints and posts thousands of pages of council papers each year.

“Having tablet computers means we can quickly move toward paperless meetings, which will help save thousands of pounds a year as well as being better for the environment.

“By introducing tablets, something which other councils have done as well, we can make sure we can carry out our work more efficiently and effectively as well as saving money.”