MEMBERS have been given a glimpse of the future after next year's major shake-up of Bolton and Bury Chamber.

As reported previously, some of the Chamber's current functions will be transferred next March to the Government's new Learning and Skills Council and the Small Business Service.

The Chamber's 112th annual meeting was held at the Reebok Stadium after the opening ceremony for this year's Business Voice exhibition.

Chairman Richard Hurst praised staff for meeting all the Chamber's targets in spite of the cloud hanging over the organisation.

And he spoke of the intention to develop a "re-born" chamber which would continue to help businesses in Bolton and Bury to grow.

A new board led by Mr Hurst is currently working on plans for a future without government grants.

Income will come primarily from membership fees, office rentals and sales of chamber services.

Mr Richard Lynch, Director of Marketing and IT, told the meeting that the traditional activities of lobbying, representing and networking would be the foundations on which the new Chamber of Commerce would be built.

He said: "Working with a number of board members and a team of Chamber staff, we have drawn up a business plan that seeks to launch a totally independent Chamber of Commerce movement -- free from Government interference and free to devlop in line with the wishes of our membership."

Mr Lynch said the 1,200-member Chamber, which was accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce, would be run as a "professional, modern, dynamic business membership organisation which appeals to the values of local business people and is responsive to their business support needs."

He said the new Chamber would offer training and consultancy services in four areas -- marketing, health and safety, human resources and Information Technology.

Change is nothing new. Bolton Chamber of Commerce (formed in 1895) merged with the Bury Chamber in 1993.

The Chamber then merged with the Training and Enterprise Council and its Business Link division in 1998.