BLACKBURN with Darwen Council's chief executive was among a select group to attend a prestigious gathering of senior civil servants in London.

Phil Watson was the only North West council boss to join leaders from top performing councils at the Civil Service College in Westminster.

Just 11 chief executives took part in the two-day event chaired by the country's top civil servant cabinet secretary Sir Richard Wilson. Mr Watson said: "Issues include dpublic service agreements, performance improvement, inspection regimes and the future of local government over the next five years."