A NEW “super council” which was formed to lead the regeneration of East Lancashire has chosen a chief executive.

Max Steinberg, currently the boss of the housing market renewal company Elevate, has been handed the task of leading the Pennine Lancashire Development Company when it is launched in the summer.

Pennine Lancashire will be made up of representatives from the six borough councils in the area as well as Lancashire County Council.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has given his blessing to the project, which will see councils burying traditional differences and apply as one for greater government funding.

One of its aims will be to secure millions of pounds to improve the area’s rail links with Manchester.

Council bosses have declined to reveal how much Mr Steinberg will be paid, but the Lancashire Telegraph understands he will be on a basic salary of £140,000 a year.

Blackburn with Darwen Council, which spearheaded the setting up of the group, said the wage, which is paid for by the government’s North West Development Agency, would be the same as Mr Steinberg receives at Elevate.

Pennine Lancashire will take over Elevate’s work and lobby the government for more funding across the area.

Blackburn with Darwen Labour group leader Kate Hollern branded the wage “huge” and questioned who would measure the performance.

Graham Burgess, chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: Mr Steinberg had an “excellent reputation and track record” and it would be “inappropriate” to discuss salary details.