THE new boss of Barrow Borough Council is expected to be formally appointed at the end of next month.

An extraordinary meeting of the full council has been scheduled for March 28 for the 36-member council to recruit its next executive director.

It follows the retirement next month of long-serving Phil Huck, aged 60.

He plans to step down after a 32-year career with the council, including seven years in the top chair.

The council has formally advertised the £97,000-a-year job which comes with 32-days holiday, a £1,239 a year car allowance and a relocation package.

It says: “We are looking for an exceptional executive director with proven ability, skills and vision to strengthen the council’s management and governance arrangements, to drive operational delivery from services, extend the council’s influence and develop partnerships and collaboration where and when it matters.

“You will be a visible, strong and effective leader with broad experience across a range of services and will be positive and motivated about the opportunity to deliver our vision, priorities, and services, bringing along staff and key stakeholders.”

The closing date for applications is March 4 with long listing taking place the next day. Shortlisting will take place on March 11 before interviews on March 25 and the appointment ratified by the council at the meeting on March 28.

Council leader Cllr Dave Pidduck said recruitment firm North West Employers was helping the council with the process of finding its next boss.

He said: “The advert is out there now once the applications come in, they will be looked at by North West Employers who will then process them and once all the arrangements have been made it will go before the full council.”

Cllr Pidduck is on the recruitment panel alongside Cllr Brendan Sweeney, the vice-chair of the executive committee, Cllr Kevin Hamilton, the deputy mayor, and Cllr Rory McClure, leader of the Conservative group.

Cllr Pidduck said arrangements would be made for Susan Roberts, the council’s director of resources, who acts as deputy to Mr Huck, to hold the fort at the council if there is a gap between Mr Huck leaving and a new candidate joining the authority.

The council employs around 221 staff but has lost 20 percent of its workforce in recent years, and £7.6 million of funding since 2010 – equivalent to 40 percent of its income.