The CUtheroe Thursday, November 30th, 2006 No. 6,279


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by Faiza Afzaal


A MERGER of Ribble Val­ ley with neighbouring bor­ oughs was ruled out of th e question by councillors a t a special meeting this week. They unanimously opposed


« Steve’s by Faiza Afzaal


WHEN Kibble Valley youth worker Steve Procter opened the post on Monday morning he was in for a pleasant surprise. For the 27-year-old, who has


devoted the past 10 years of his life organising activities for yoiing people in the Kibble Val­ ley to keep them out of trouble, has been invited to Downing Street to meet Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife, Cherie.


_ with PM


The prestigious invitation is in recognition of Steve’s remark­ able services to the voluntary sector. Preparing for the big day on


Tuesday, December 12th, he said: “I’m well chuffed. I just couldn’t believe it when I opened the invitation letter. “I don’t know who has nomi­


nated mie, but I ’m looking for­ ward to meeting the PM.


any proposals to merge with neighboming councils in Bum- ley, Pendle, Hyndburn, Lan­ caster or Preston to form a new unitary body and instead spoke in favour of enhancing the cur­ rent two-tier systeni of county and district councils. Secretary of State for Com-


. munities and Local Govern­ ment, Ruth Kelly, has proposed a shake-up of the current politi­ cal system in a bid to devolve more decision-making to local level. The announcement was part of a recent Government White Paper, which sets out two options: • Enlarged unitary councils


to manage and deliver all local council services; • Or a modified two-tier


structure promoting enhanced partnership working between district and county councils.


The unitary option would


inevitably mean mergers with neighbouring councils, but deputy leader of the council, Coun. Mike Ranson, said: “This council is not interested in overtures from Burnley, Pen­ dle, Blackburn or elsewhere. “Since the White Paper has


been published we have had no direct approaches, but we are not interested in such a mar­ riage or courtship and are happy to stay single and celi­ bate. “As far as the Ribble Valley council is concerned, it is as


. good an authority as we can get. This council rejects amalgamat­ ing with any of its neighbours and supports any. enhancement of the two-tier system. That should be a clear message with­ out a doubt.” He added: “We must strive to


improve the efficiency of servic­ es we offer and ensure that the. services we deliver are relevant to our population whether they are young or old, fit or imfit and firm or infirm.” The proposal was seconded .


by County Councillor Chris Holtom. Speaking after the


PAGES 49 to 52


Council rules out merger!


meeting he said: “I think my worry is that a lot of councils, not just in Lancashire, but in other parts of the country, have had aspirations to become uni­ tary authorities and merge with their neighbours. “This council wants to


remain as it is, within its own boundaries. It wants to contin­ ue to maintain the two-tier sys­ tem and one of the good exam- ples.is the recently-lanched Lancashire Local meetings, which I chair. The example of the Lancashire Local meeting could be a model for the future.” Meanwhile, the leader of


Lancashire County Council, Coun. Hazel Harding has writ­ ten to the leaders of 12 district councils, including Ribble Val­ ley, calling for all councils to work together. She wrote : “There has been


growing collaboration between the county council and district councils in Lancashire and I believe these arrangements could go much further. “Working together we can


continue to improve services and the quality of life for Lan­ cashire people.”


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■ CHRIS STAMMERS


Blues boss quits!


CLITHEROE FC manager Chris Stammers shocked players and officials by resigning on Saturday after the club’s record FA Trophy exit at Kettering Town. The Blues were blitzed


10-1 by the full-time pro­ fessional side, hotly-tipped for promotion to the Nationwide Conference and bankrolled by a mil­ lionaire businessman. It was a game the town


team had no realistic right to win, against a team that plays two league levels above, but the severity of the result was too much to take for the man in charge. See pages 78 and 80 for interviews, analysis and reports.


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