A POLICY which will dramatically change the shape of Blackburn Council has been approved by councillors.

The town hall is reshaping its management structure in time for independence from the county council in 16 months time.

The aim is to create a new layer of management posts in time for the start of the unitary authority in spring, 1998.

The plan is to have a management team with the ability to run a local authority which will be four or five times the size of Blackburn Council.

It is estimated the council's budget will increase from £20 million to almost £120 million after re-organisation.

Staffing levels are also expected to soar when extra powers are taken on board.

Three new heads of departments will be created and the top job of chief executive will also be advertised in the run-up to unitary status.

The trio of new directors will be in charge of community and personal services, corporate resources and finally technical and regeneration services.

There will also be 12 heads of departments responsible for running services such as education and social services.

The fine details of the new council departments are set to be hammered out over the coming months but the basic strategy has been approved by the local government reorganisation committee.

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