Blackburn with Darwen Council has made a U-turn on plans to have eight super-councillors shaping the future of the borough behind closed doors following criticism by the public and a campaign for more openness by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

The council's Labour group has replaced the old committee system with a cabinet of eight executive councillors who each hold portfolios on key areas like education, social services and housing.

The Labour group originally wanted the cabinet to meet behind closed doors, with its recommendations being rubber-stamped by a public committee for the first year until the new Local Government Bill becomes law.

But the Labour group, which blamed its poor showing in May's elections on public opposition to the policy, has now announced the cabinet's meetings will be open to all.

The cabinet's first planned meeting is on Tuesday. It is not yet clear whether that first meeting will be open, since the council's standing orders may need to be modified to accommodate the policy change.

Labour group press officer Coun Sue Reid, one of the eight councillors handed an executive role, said: "There has been a basic misconception of how the new political structures will operate, and as a Labour group we must accept some responsiblity for a lack of clarity on the subject.

"We want the public to fully understand how and why decisions are made and for people to have an opportunity to influence the way future services are provided. Our main aim is to make sure that the council provides good-quality services that meet the needs of the community.

"The decision will need to be ratified through formal council procedures, but once approved, our fortnightly meetings will be held in public and all will be welcome."

In its victorious Leader column, the Telegraph said:

No matter that its contrition, now that it has come, is convoluted, the decision of Blackburn with Darwen ruling Labour group to hold future meetings of the Executive Board - the cabinet of eight 'super councillors' set to run the Council in secret - in public is right and welcome.

The group speaks of there being a basic misconception of how the new political structures will operate and of having to accept some responsibility for a lack of clarity on the subject.

This is a roundabout way of saying: "Sorry, we got it wrong."

We told them it was wrong to duck accountability to the people who elect them. And, more importantly, so did the voters last month. Apology accepted.

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