PENDLE Council has won a top award for its annual development programme for councillors.

The Council's Member Development training Programme has been recognised by the North West Employers' Organisation.

Over the next 12 months, councillors will receive training on a variety of issues including equality, health and safety, chairing meetings, the council's Code of Conduct, planning issues, IT, and the new liquor licensing system.

Pat Hudson, the member support officer, organises the training programme and co-ordinates the trainers.

Philip Mousdale, Pendle Council's executive director (regeneration), said: "The Member Development Charter shows the council's commitment to developing its councillors to enable them to provide effective help to and be leaders in their communities."

"There have been many changes over the last few years in Local Government and it's only fair that we try to equip councillors to deal with these changes, particularly in the role councillors play in the community."

Coun Allan Buck, who sits on the council's member development group, said: "I have been a councillor for 14 years.

"However, when I recently returned to being a councillor after a two-year break, I really found the training programme valuable because virtually everything had changed.

"For first time councillors, the development programme is particularly useful although all councillors are benefiting from it."