THE appointment of the chairman of a race watchdog to a £22,000 per year job in the organisation has been frozen after doubts were raised over the appointments process.

Coun Mohammed Khan, who is also chairman of Blackburn with Darwen Council's housing committee, has been told that if he wants to take up the post he will have to relinquish chairmanship of the Blackburn Racial Equality Council.

He was offered the job as a harassment supervisor by a personnel committee panel comprising his deputy chairman of housing at the town hall, Coun Dave Hollings, and two other Labour party members - Pat Maudsley, a women's officer and a former Labour Councillor.

The committee also included Conservative Coun Edna Arnold.

Abdul Hamid Choudry, director of the REC, said: "Coun Khan has been verbally offered the job but he would have to resign as chairman if he was to take the position up."

Coun Dave Hollings said he had no idea who he would be interviewing when he took his seat on the personnel committee as no personal details are made available when candidates are shortlisted. Only professional details are made available to interviewers.

He said: "My difficulty is that this matter is still being worked through and until that is completed this should be confidential."

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