AS WIRRAL Council bosses prepare to select the authority’s next chief executive, neighbouring St Helens Council has appointed their own in the form of 36-year-old economics experts Mike Palin.

Originally from Bury, Mr Palin will take over the role from Carole Hudson, 59, who announced in September she will be retiring from the position she has held since 1991.

Senior councillors hope he will have the vision, dynamism and contacts to transform the borough’s economy. But he will also take the reins at an immensely challenging time for a local authority that is having to slash budgets and cut jobs.

Mr Palin will leave his job as executive director for Strategic Economic Development at the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

He oversaw the city region’s £232m growth plan submission and played a key role in setting the LEP and city region strategy and policy. He has also held senior positions with the North West Development Agency and before that for social, economic and management consultancy SQW.

Wirral Council will be hoping they too can attract someone with such experience.

The authority’s executive will earn more than their predecessor, with the authority boosting the salary to £175,000 to attract the best person for the job.

The authority advertised for a new chief executive to replace Graham Burgess, who retired at the end of last year.

Applications closed on Monday morning, with a spokeswoman for the authority saying that while exact numbers were not available, there had been “strong interest” in the post.

A meeting of the council’s employment and appointments panel will take place at Wallasey Town Hall tomorrow, Friday, to consider applications.