COUNCILLORS have agreed to hire a manager to oversee the day-to-day running and marketing of 16 offices.

The manager will be responsible for units at the £1.5m Innovation Centre at Colburn Business Park.

"The project was developed and marketed as being managed workspace," said Richmondshire District Council's head of economic development, Nicola Hood.

"It clearly needs a full-time manager and, although this is a new concept for the council, I am confident it will become a flagship project for the district."

The manager will be recruited in October on a fixed term two-year contract until December 2007.

The Innovation Centre is expected to be open by the end of the year.