HYNDBURN council has committed itself to a national declaration to ensure to ensure its contractors pay their fair share of tax.

It full meeting in Accrington Town Hall unanimously voted to adopt the proposal after a Conservative attempt to defer the debate failed.

Netherton ward Labour councillors proposed the motion on 'Standing up for Responsible Tax Conduct'.

It committed the council to join many others in signing up to the Fair Tax Declaration.

This requires local authorities to 'lead by example and demonstrate good practice in our tax conduct, right across our activities'.

It commits the council not to use offshore vehicles for the purchase of land and property and undertake due diligence to ensure that not-for-profit structures are not being used inappropriately by suppliers as an artificial device to reduce the payment of tax and business rates.

The declaration also calls on the authority to support calls for urgent reform of UK procurement law to enable local authorities to better penalise poor tax conduct and reward good tax conduct through their procurement policies.

This included ensuring its contractors are paying their proper share of tax.

Chartered accountant Cllr Aziz told the Full Council meeting on Thursday night: "Taxes are crucial for the functioning of our society.

"Fair taxation means that everyone contributes their fair share based on their ability to pay.

"By implementing progressive tax rates we bridge the wealth gap and ensure essential service are funded and accessible to all.

"The culture and ethics of doing business the right way tends to attract similar-minded businesses to you supply chain

"It is this cultural shift that I want to embed in the way Hyndburn Council does business."

Borough finance boss and Conservative group deputy leader Cllr Peter Britcliffe asked that consideration of the motion be deferred so council officers could consider the legal and practical implications for the authority's procurement process and other financial procedures.

Cllr Aziz refused and after chief executive David Welsby said he was happy for the motion to be decided at the meeting provided officers could come to the council if any problems with its implementation were discovered, it was unanimously voted through.

Economic development and sustainability boss Cllr Zak Khan said: "We are all in favour of fair taxation."