THREE more top level appointments have been made at Blackburn town hall in the run-up to local government re-organisation.

Two executive directors charged with overseeing Blackburn with Darwen Council policy and strategy have been picked by a specially appointed panel.

The two directors will work directly below newly appointed chief executive Phil Watson and will earn between £55,000 and £61,000 a year.

The executive director posts were created when council bosses decided to adopt a new management structure in readiness for the break with County Hall in April, when Blackburn takes over responsibility for education and social services.

The council is readvertising for a third executive director after interviewing 12 candidates. Council leader Malcolm Doherty said: "We just felt the need to readvertise the post to find a suitable candidate.

"We had a reasonable set of applications but we wanted to take another look at the market."

Steve Gallagher, head of social services at Bolton Council, has been appointed as one of the new directors.

And Steve Weaver, the current head of Blackburn's policy unit, will fill the other post.

Current personnel director John Connolly will keep his job after re-applying for the post.

The council workforce is expected to increase from around 1,800 to 6,000.

Mr Connolly will earn between £40,000 and £45,000 a year.

The latest announcements follows the appointment of a new chief executive, head of social services and an education and training chief.

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