BURNLEY Council has reluctantly backed the latest devolution deal for Lancashire after a U-turn by its leader.

Cllr Afraisiab Anwar revealed he had changed his mind on the proposal after considering borough responses to the consultation on the scheme.

But his Labour Cllr Mark Townsend counterpart branded the devo plan 'second division' as his members voted to reject it.

The Full Council meeting in Wednesday voted for a motion asking chief executive Lukman Patel to submit a consultation response supporting the devolution proposal adding that its reasons were that it was supported by businesses, there was a need to get on the first step of the journey and work towards greater local engagement and that if Burnley was not part of the new arrangement it would be left further behind.

On Monday Rossendale Council voted to reject the scheme which Hyndburn Council has already rejected in a vote earlier this month.

The 'Level Two' deal struck by the area’s three top-tier local authorities – Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council – would see Lancashire handed a range of powers through the creation of a new combined authority which include improving public transport, boosting economic prosperity, and improving employment and skills.

The deal does not include creating a directly-elected mayor for the county.

Any new Lancashire Combined County Authority would receive more than £20 million in extra government cash and be in operation by 2025.

Burnley Independent Group's Cllr Anwar told the meeting: "We are not happy with what is included within the deal but what is being proposed would be the first step towards further deals in the future.

"What businesses have told us is that when Lancashire leaders are going to government and asking for funds they are in competition against Manchester, Liverpool, and West Yorkshire who have a single voice and Lancashire misses out.

"And as a result Burnley businesses miss out.

"I would like to propose that we support the deal but the reasons for supporting the deal are that we need to get onto this first steps of the journey towards devolution."

Cllr Townsend said: "Cllr Anwar has done an about turn on everything he has been saying for the past six months. He has taken us by surprise.

"We all support the need for a devolution deal. It has to be the right deal and this is not it.

"This is a second division deal."

Cllr Anwar's motion was supported by the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Greens.

Rossendale Council's Leader Cllr Alyson Barnes said: “We recognise the potential a devolution deal for Lancashire could have, but the current proposal falls short in addressing many key concerns that districts have."