ROSSENDALE Borough Council has appointed a fifth member to its restructured management team as the beleagured authority begins to look to the future after a disastrous Audit Commission report.

Lynn Hurrell is the new director of landlord services -- a role which aims to continue the authority's work in improving public services.

She joins recently-appointed new chief executive Owen Williams, deputy chief executive Gillian Bishop, borough solicitor Mark Weston and head of finance Philip Seddon.

The team, which represents a young management group, will start planning its strategy at an "away-day" on May 12.

James Gravenor, who will step down as Rossendale Council's interim chief executive on May 16, said he was happy the future for Rossendale was "very rosy" with "one of the best management teams around".

Mr Gravenor was appointed after the council was placed 237 out of 237 following an inspection, and branded the worst authority in the country. Lynn, who has worked in local government since completing a housing degree in 1984, said: "I see the job as about delivering a solid service to customers.

"The biggest challenge will be meeting the Government's Decent Housing Standard which is a legal requirement by 2010. That is wider than just housing -- people should be living in homes in communities that have all the services they need.

"The job cannot be seen, therefore, as soley about housing. We have to look at the community as a whole. We have a lot of work to do to meet those standards but we are in a better position than many local authorities.

"I see the job as being about people as well as homes. This job is a unique opportunity."

Lynn, who lives in Hawkshaw with her husband and son, has most recently worked as a consultant on housing and regeneration matters.