In May 2007 the Conservative party took control of the council  in an Alliance with the Liberal and For Darwen parties, whilst still maintaining an overall majority within the partnership. 

The pledges made at the election were to restore weekly rubbish collections, to review the rebuilding of the Darwen Leisure Centre and to increase re-cycling.  All these pledges have been met, whilst keeping within prudent financial restraints. We have increased the Boroughs financial reserves, and more importantly have brought in a Council Tax of 1:9%, and pledged to maintain the increases for the next two years below the retail price index.

When we held our Policy Council meeting earlier this year we had identified three main areas of concern.

• Health & Well Being of our Citizens
• Worklessness and Regeneration
• Stronger Neighbourhoods.

  Our figures for ill health within the Urban areas of Blackburn with Darwen make stark reading, high rates of alcoholism, shorter life expectancy, the most devastating figure is that of a child born today within the urban areas of Blackburn will have a 10 year shorter life expectancy than a child born in the North Turton with Tockholes ward, in 2007 in a wealthy country that is disgraceful.  The prime causes of this malaise appear to be, school results below the national average, high unemployment, and single parents. We are attempting to address these problems using the three areas accepted at the Policy Council. 

The Borough has formed a partnership called Pennine Lancashire with 5 other East Lancashire authorities and Lancashire County to  become a stronger voice. This will enable us to compete with Liverpool and Manchester, in obtaining funding from the North West Development Agency and central government. Pennine Lancashire has  a population of almost 500k, and will be able to argue a stronger case for increased monies.   Blackburn with Darwen is the lead authority in this partnership.