THIS week the Lancashire Telegraph revealed Blackburn with Darwen and Hyndburn councils are in talks to consider whether to pool their officer services, a move which could prompt a major reorganisation of councils across the county. We examine the issue.

"Politics is a strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles."

The words of American writer and satirist Ambrose Bierce, who lived from 1842 to 1914, are no less true today when discussing local government reorganisation.

As Bierce implied, the problem with politics is that everyone has something to lose or gain.

Blackburn with Darwen and Hyndburn councils are in talks to pool their officers but retain two separate politically-controlled councils.

Tory-run Hyndburn would become a unitary authority, getting more control over the education, social services, and transport, roles currently controlled by Lancashire County Council.

Labour-led Blackburn with Darwen would benefit from greater efficiency savings and look to attract increased grants for the larger "merged" area.

Both "unitary" authorities would also be likely to benefit from a migration of jobs currently based in Preston to add to the 7,000 already employed at the two councils.

Preston and South Ribble are also considering a similar move but want go one step further and merge both councillors and officers.

Lancashire County Council would be the loser if councils like Hyndburn, Preston and South Ribble are allowed to leave in control because the whole county authority would, conceivably, become unviable.

That could pave the way for a merged unitary authority made up of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, although those who support that idea face considerable opposition.

Lancashire County Council, led by County Coun Hazel Harding wants no change, advocating an enhancement of the existing two-tier local government system instead.

Coun Harding dismissed claims that her opposition to changing the system was because she did not want to do herself out of one of the most powerful jobs in the county.

She said: "The people who may stand to gain think they are running a small council and will be running a bigger council.

"I just don't think this is going to be as exciting as some people think."

"I was out and about in my local patch in Rossendale and, of the things people spoke to me about, reorganising local government was not one of them."

She said people were interested in council tax and services.

But since Blackburn with Darwen Council became a unitary in 1998, breaking away from the county, it has recorded the lowest average council tax increase across the county.

Its tax demands increased by 46.2 per cent between 98 and 2005, whereas in Hyndburn tax increased up by 49.7 per cent, in Burnley by 51.1 per cent, in Pendle by 52 per cent, in the Ribble Valley by 49 per cent, and 52.9 per cent in Rossendale.

Colin Rigby, leader of the Tory opposition in Blackburn, said facts like this helped prove that unitary councils had proven they were more adept at providing services than the two tier system.

Coun Rigby advocates a politically advantageous policy to the Tories a full merger between Blackburn and Hyndburn, incorporating part of the Ribble Valley. But not without a vested interest.

Both Ribble Valley and Hyndburn are Conservative-controlled and if his choice became reality he could see himself in charge of a new super unitary authority.

However, its not all about power. Supporters of creating unitary authorities claim they are not only more efficient but also closer to people they serve.

Coun Tony Dobson, deputy leader of Hyndburn, said: "What we are talking about is enhancement of services instead of them being provided from Preston."

Both councils have already seen the benefit of working together, and Blackburn has been running Hyndburn's regeneration department since 2004.

They have attracted £20million for a rapid transit transport system, with £14million going to Blackburn and £6million going to Hyndburn.

Coun Tony Dobson, talking of the £6million for Hyndburn, said: "Lancashire County Council is our highways authority, but it never even made an application for this money.

"By chance we were talking to Blackburn and we went in with them. We are the only borough in Lancashire to get it."

Whitebirk roundabout, on the border of the councils, is to benefit from a £3.5million revamp with traffic lights a result, he said, of working together.

The drive to increase efficiency, reduce council tax, and improve public services is the reason behind the most recent bout of proposed local government shake ups.

In October the Government's secretary for local government and communities, Ruth Kelly, will release a White Paper paving the way for the council shake-ups.

Further east in the county, a merger between Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale is being pushed by LibDem Coun Gordon Birtwistle, leader of Burnley Council.

Needless to say Coun Duncan Ruddick, Conservative leader of Rossendale Council, is opposed to any merger.

He commented: "If I was asked to put a bet on what's happening, I would say we would not have local government re-organisation.

"It will fall by the wayside, police ones have fallen apart for similar reasons these reorganisations cost a fortune."

Neville Singer, chairman of the market tenants association in Accrington, concluded: "They say it's going to save money and all that happens is that chief officers end up getting more money."