AN amendment to the Local Government Bill will mean Redditch Council can draw up its own modernisation programme to best suit the needs of townsfolk.

Under the current Bill, councils have three options to change the way decisions are made.

But according to the amendment by the Liberal Democrat Baroness Sally Hamwee, smaller authorities may draw up alternative proposals including arrangements which do not include an executive.

This amendment will be appropriate to districts with a population of 85,000 or less, based on 1998 population estimates.

Redditch qualifies with a population of just 76,700 people.

And the proposed amendment has received the full backing of Local Government Association chiefs.

LGA chairman Sir Jeremy Beecham said: "The LGA has consistently called for greater flexibility for small district councils since the legislation first appeared in draft last March.

"The change will meet the concerns of many authorities for whom the three main models do not appear particularly appropriate."

A council spokesman said: "This amendment would seem to indicate the Government has relaxed its stance on the three options of change.

"However, it still doesn't permit the council to retain the status quo but appears to be more of a half-way house.

''We are eager to receive more details on the possibilities.

"We want to explore all options available to us and the council will be consulting with residents later this year about the organisation of their local government."