CITY bosses heralded the arrival of a new era after voting in a new man for the authority's top job of chief executive.

Councillors opted for 44-year-old Mark Cullinan, currently working for Wakefield Borough Council, to lead the authority into the 21st century.

Mr Cullinan will take over from acting chief executive, David Corker, who jointly shared the responsibilities of the top position with former development director, Charles Wilson, before Mr Wilson was forced to retire on health grounds last year.

Cllr Geoff Wilson, the council's finance chief, said he was delighted with the news.

"We've gone through an extremely thorough selection process and are convinced we've got the right man to lead the authority forward," he said.

The authority has endured some turbulent times in the past few years and members hope that Mr Cullinan will steady the ship.

Mr Cullinan, who is currently head of housing and social services at Wakefield, told the Citizen: "Obviously it's very early days but I am delighted to have been offered the job. "I've spent the last few days in the district and have had a very positive response from local people and the councillors. I'm looking forward very much to the challenges of the job. Lancaster City Council is an excellent authority which I believe is well placed for the challenges of the future."

He described the selection and interview process as "very thorough".

Mr Cullinan is married and has already started scouring the district for suitable local schools for his two children aged five and seven. He intends to move to the area as soon as possible to take up his £70k a year post.

It is understood he will take up his post as soon as possible - a period of three months at the outside.

Mr Cullinan was selected from a short-list of five candidates which had been whittled down from an initial application of 36.

Mr Cullinan is the fourth chief executive in almost as many years for the city and it's believed that David Corker will revert to his post as city treasurer although, depending on new recommendations in a local government shake-up later this week, that future of that post may well be in doubt.

Another senior officer on the move is Anne Seex, who is off to take up the chief executive position in Norwich.

The authority's head of public relations, Peter Forrester, is also on the move. He is understood to be leaving to take up a position with the Audit Commission as part of its Best Value Inspectorate.