THE partnership between Labour and the Liberal Democrats which has run Burnley Council for the past 12 months will continue.
At tonight's annual meeting of the borough authority councillors voted for the coalition to stay in power.
They elected Labour group boss Cllr Afrasiab Anwar to remain as leader with no-one voting against him.
He then appointed a new executive with LibDem Cllr Maggie Lishman keeping her portfolio for health and wellbeing as part of her party's price for continuing the partnership.
The only changes to the council's top team were Cllr Shah Hussain taking over from the retiring Bea Foster in charge of community and environmental services and former council leader and last years Mayor Cllr Mark Townsend replacing Lanehead's Cllr Asif Raja in the economy and growth brief.
Cllr Sue Graham remains deputy leader and finance boss and Cllr John Harbour retains the housing and development control brief.
Cllr Anwar told the meeting in the Mechanics' Theatre chaired by new Mayor Cliviger-with-Worsthorne ward's Cllr Cosima Towneley: "I think the partnership with the Liberal Democrats has gone well over the last 12 months delivering on the council's priorities.
"They include Pioneer Place, Charter Walk and £20million of investment.
"This will provide stability for the council and the people of Burnley especially with the cost of living crisis."
The meeting approved nominations for committee chairs including confirming Daneshouse with Stoneyholme ward's Cllr Saeed Chaudhary in the key job of being in charge of the development control committee.
Bids by new Green Party leader Scott Cunliffe, who has taken over from Trinity ward's Cllr Andy Fewings, to get its new councillor Jack Launer on the Pennine Prospects board and Trinity ward's Cllr Martyn Hurt onto the board of the Burnley Acorn Fund were voted down.
After the meeting Cllr Anwar, whose party is the largest in the council with 18 members said: "I am absolutely delighted.We are going to have a difficult 12 months but this will provide the council with strong leadership."
LibDem leader and former Burnley MP Cllr Gordon Birtwistle said: "I am pleased we are continuing the partnership. I think it has worked well.
"I am happy remaining group leader and sitting on development control committee."
Tory leader Cllr Alan Hosker said: "I think those people who voted Liberal Democrat did not vote for a coalition with Labour. It would have been pointless for us to vote against it."
Cllr Mark Payne remains leader of the Burnley and Padiham Independent group.
May 5's local elections produced another hung council with Green Party taking one ward from the Conservatives to put up their strength to six councillors.
This cut the Tory representation to eight, on a par with the Lib Dems.
The Burnley and Padiham Independents remained on five councillors.
