THE leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council has hit back after his authority was accused of wasting tax payers' money on spin and "scattergun" spending.

Labour councillor Sir Bill Taylor spoke after the leader of the Tory opposition, Colin Rigby, blasted his administration.

Coun Rigby attacked the Labour-run council after it published a 'Performance Agreement' setting out 18 key objectives.

He said the council was obsessed with image and criticised the way cash was unfairly distributed. He also called on Coun Taylor and his team to concentrate on housing, health, poverty and education after it was revealed some wards of the borough fall in the 100 worst nationally.

But Coun Taylor hit back and said his opponent's views were based on a jealousy of Labour successes at national and local level.

He said: "I don't think they like the fact that central government and councils are working with each other to improve public services.

"In the dark days of the 1980s, spending cuts were made every year but now we have a commitment from a Labour government that wants to work with councils."

The government's Elevate programme, from which five East Lancashire councils can bid for a share of £500million regeneration money was an example, Coun Taylor said.

And on the issue of spin, he said the Council was merely reacting to public demand for more information.

He added: "It was made clear to us that the Council has to communicate with their citizens.

"We have a determination to communicate with people which any worthwhile organisation also has."

Coun Rigby said the council's concentration of spending in town centre wards was was having an adverse affect on outlying rural areas.

This, he argued, needed to be addressed to stop the British National Party capitalising on perceptions of unfair distribution, as it did in Burnley, where the far-right BNP now has seven councillors.

But Coun Taylor said this was already being addressed.

"We are mapping our public resources so everyone will be able to see how and where money is spent. It isn't the case that some areas get neglected."

Coun Taylor also defended the Council's neighbourhood co-ordinators which Coun Rigby said cost £150,000 a year and was an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy. He said: "They have been very well received by the public and the communities they work in.

"Councillors set policies which they make sure are implemented.

"Neighbourhood co-ordinators are an excellent way of ensuring services are delivered properly."