BURNLEY Council has appointed 50-year-old Pam Smith as the borough’s new chief executive.

The Oldham-born mother will earn slightly less than her predecessor Steve Rumbelow’s £112,335 when she takes up her post next month.

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Mrs Smith comes from two years in the private sector after a long career in local government, including six years with the Audit Commission, the Whitehall spending watchdog for councils.

She leaves AdviserPlus Business Solutions, which provides personnel services to large companies, having previously worked as an executive director at Rochdale council.

Mrs Smith started as an apprentice with Oldham borough and also worked for Bury, collecting an Open University degree in social sciences as well as a post-graduate qualification in management on the way.

After her appointment by a special full Burnley Council meeting, Mrs Smith said: “I’ve really enjoyed working in the private sector but I have come back to public service where my heart is.

“I bring private sector discipline and wide experience of local government, including an overview from the Audit Commission, to my new job.

“I am very much looking forward to helping the borough become a northern economic powerhouse.

“There are problems such as housing, but I want to see Burnley leading in the creative and digital industries and developing skills so people want to stay here and come here.

“Burnley has made massive progress in regenerating and rejuvenating itself in recent years.

“Working with business and community leaders, it’s my job to ensure we drive forward with ambitious plans to transform Burnley to make it an even more attractive place to work, live and visit.

“With the politicians I hope to provide leadership and a sense of direction.”

Mrs Smith, who lives in Saddleworth with car mechanic husband Alec and nine-year-old daughter Isabel, attended Grange Secondary School in Oldham.

Burnley council leader Mark Townsend said: “Pam stood out among thea very good shortlist of national candidates.

“She will continue the excellent work that Steve accomplished.

“I know that Pam is looking forward to working with councillors and her colleagues to develop and implement our clear vision of the direction our borough, and the council, should be taking in coming years.”

Burnley Liberal Democrat MP Gordon Birtwistle said: “I think we should have one chief executive for all of Pennine Lancashire. In the interim the borough needs one of its own.”

Pendle Tory MP Andrew Stephenson said Burnley should have looked at Pendle borough council’s decision to scrap its chief executive post when Stephen Barnes quit the job last year.