MATTERS of public interest are being decided in secret by Rossendale councillors, it was claimed today.

Now the local authority's Labour group leader Coun David Hancock is calling for a review of how private issues are dealt with in the council chambers.

It comes after Coun Hancock and colleague Coun Mollie Disley were cleared of misconduct by the Standards Board for England.

They were accused by rivals after speaking out about a private item after an Overview and Scrutiny committee meeting.

The matter related to Rawtenstall Tourist Information Centre which was discussed in private due to the possible disclosure of staff salaries.

But the watchdog dismissed the complaint because the much of the meeting should have been held in public.

Waterfoot ward Coun Hancock said: "In the letter we received from the board it clearly states there were a lot of things in the report that were of public interest and should have been taken in public. I'm going to raise it under matters arising at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Thursday.

"I am going ask for a review of how private matters are dealt with and suggest that only the private matters are heard in private and the rest of the report should be heard in public because it's important not to discuss important matters behind closed doors."

Hareholme ward Coun Disley said she the first she knew of the investigation was when the Standards Board letter dropped through her door. She described the complaint as petty'.

She added: "I was quite angry. We hadn't done anything wrong. The debate was moved into private items because the chair said we were going to be talking about individuals' salaries but no salaries were mentioned.

"I don't believe in secrets so I spoke about it and now I find I've been under investigation for it.

"It's just ridiculous. The letter says the allegation should not be investigated which is a relief but I don't understand why someone would waste time complaining about it in the first place."

Rebecca Jones, of the Standards Board: "The decision was not to investigate as the allegations didn't disclose any potential failure to comply with the Code of Conduct.