THE biggest shake-up in local government for more than 100 years is set to be discussed by Hyndburn councillors tomorrow.

The current committee format, which has been the same since the last century, is due to be swept away in a radical overhaul - in a bid to make the council more efficient and democratic.

The new proposals aim to get people more involved in decision-making and a massive consultation exercise is planned before any final decision is taken.

At present, committees cover council services and policies are overseen by a council leader and deputy leader, selected from the majority group and working alongside officers.

Councillors are expected to agree on a new structure which will see the introduction of a new system, which will have a cabinet with a leader.

Other options are having a directly-elected mayor with a cabinet, or a directly elected mayor and council manager, but Hyndburn's preferred option is the cabinet with leader. Approval is also being sought for a pilot area council for Oswaldtwistle, with its first meeting on February 29. A borough-wide referendum is set to take place alongside the local elections in May to define the precise boundaries of area councils - which aim to give towns outside Accrington more of a say.

The new system will have:

A council committee.

A cabinet of executive councillors with responsibility for particular issues.

A scrutiny and policy development board covering executive matters with the ability to establish time-limited task groups to investigate and report on specific issues.

A standards and ethics committee dealing with complaints.

A planning committee to continue in its present form with possible decentralisation of some functions to area councils.

A judicial panel of members charged with determining various issues, for example, appeals and licensing.

Area councils to cover different districts within the borough.

Decisions currently being taken by committees will, instead, be taken by top councillors with an all-party scrutiny committee monitoring what goes on.

The 'council cabinet' option preferred by Hyndburn Council will see several committees abolished, with top councillors taking on their responsibilities.

In effect, they will become 'ministers' with their own briefs to take to cabinet.

Every decision taken by the cabinet will have to be endorsed by a so-called 'executive committee.'

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