ROSSENDALE Borough Council's interim Chief Executive, James Gravenor has been appointed finance officer.
Mr Gravenor took over the role after the borough treasurer, Richard Hargreaves took early retirement two weeks ago.
The appointment comes just a week after the new chief executive of the troubled council dispelled rumours that the authority paid out £750,000 in "golden goodbyes" to senior officers.
Mr Gravenor, drafted in as a troubleshooter when the authority was named the worst performing in the country following an Audit Commission inspection report, branded talk of pay-offs'"a load of rubbish'.
Stephen Hartley, the then chief executive of Rossendale Council, resigned, although he explained his decision to accept a new job in the health service was taken before the report.
The report recommended "an immediate and radical overhaul of senior management" with a new senior management team to be in place by 2003.
He added: "The amount of money we lose as a result of not having this officer would be more than we pay out."
Officers are now sifting through applications to recruit a Benefits Recovery Officer.
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