THE first meeting of Lancashire County Council's streamlined new cabinet took place on July 12 at the County Hall in Preston.

The cabinet, responsible for the day-to-day running of the county, is designed to modernise the council's decision making system, and make it much easier for local people to understand what goes on.

The cabinet is led by council leader, Councillor Hazel Harding.

Councillor Harding oversees meetings, with a councillor responsible for each area of local Government -- from a Councillor for Education and Young People to a Councillor for Highways and Transportation.

At the heart of this new open system will be the Internet. The Democratic Information System is a new way for people to find out about what their local councillor is doing, and what decisions are being made in the cabinet. The Council's website is at www.lancashire.gov.uk

can find out who their local Councillor is and e-mail them directly with any comments or questions.

Another important issue brought up at the cabinet meeting was the foot and mouth disease. Council leader Mrs Hazel Harding said: "The people of Lancashire have suffered throughout foot and mouth and we need to represent their views to the Government."

The Council hopes to work in conjunction with Lancaster University to consider the use of vaccines to stop another spread of the disease.

The cabinet's monthly meetings are all held in public, with the next meeting scheduled for Monday August 13.