THE new chief executive of Darlington Borough Council will be appointed next week.

Ada Burns, who has worked as director of neighbourhood renewal in the London borough of Greenwich for the past four years, has been selected.

The council will confirm her appointment at a meeting in the town hall on Monday night.

Ms Burns replaces Barry Keel, who left earlier this year to become chief executive at Plymouth City Council.

A report to the meeting says: "The human resources committee believes that the council will have an excellent chief executive in Ada Burns and that she possesses the skills, experience and personal qualities to take us forward and build upon our existing achievements."