AN extra £1 million to spend on services for the public could be coming Pendle's way if a new bid by the borough council succeeds.

But local Liberal councillors will have to swallow their pride and take on new ideas from New Labour if they are to get the extra cash.

The ruling Liberal Group on Pendle Council has decided to bid for "Beacon Status" under a new initiative from central Government. Local councils which meet the Labour Government's criteria for how they should operate will be awarded Beacon Status, and with it, extra cash to spend on local services.

Liberal leader of Pendle Council, Alan Davies, commented: "It's a six-fold list of things we have to do under the Government's so-called modernisation of local councils. We believe we are already there, or nearly there, in five of the six areas."

But Coun Davies added: "In one area we are very far from happy with what the Government wants. They want decision making concentrated in the hands of far fewer councillors, while here in Pendle we have a wide involvement across all the parties and areas including our trend-setting area committees."

The Government wants to see local councils set up "Council Cabinets", made up of senior councillors only from the ruling group and in charge of making key decisions -- along similar lines to how the Government operates.

Pendle's Liberals are unhappy at restricting the decision-making process, but have agreed to give it a try as part of their bid for Beacon Status.

"We are recommending an experiment with the council's most important single decision -- next year's budget -- to see if we can make the Government's proposals work the way we want them to, and at the same time bring in more public information and involvement, not less," said Coun Davies.

A six-point plan setting out how Pendle hopes to meet the Government's criteria for Beacon Status includes:

l All services to be fully reviewed every five years -- a system that is already under way -- with a new "Citizen's Panel" of around 1,000 local people already in the planning stages, to help the council deliver the services that people want.

l An Experimental Cabinet in the coming budget-making process

l A rigorous ethical programme including a standards committee and a whistle-blowing policy for staff.

l Better resources planning, with a three-year capital and revenue programme planning system to help with strategic investment decisions in Pendle.

l Extending Pendle's already successful programme of working in partnership with other agencies.

l A new "Commission" to review the support provided to Pendle councillors to help them in their council work. This will be independent, with no councillors serving on it.

Coun Davies commented: "In most of these areas Pendle leads the field in Lancashire and is one of the pioneers across the whole country.

"Pendle is ahead of the field, make no mistake."

However, he sounded a word or warning, adding: "There is concern among our members that there will be political prejudice against non-Labour run councils when the Government decides which ones get Beacon Status. But we are doing our best to meet their requirements."

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