THE first stage in the £30,000 process of finding a new boss for Teesdale District Council begins on Monday.

The council's executive committee is to interview three shortlisted recruitment agencies to decide which to employ to find the authority's new chief executive.

At the meeting, which is being held behind closed doors, the agencies will be invited to make a presentation to the committee.

The council has been without a permanent chief executive since Charles Anderson resigned from his post in June. It has been run on an interim basis by Kingsley Smith, the former chief executive of Durham County Council.

In October, a closed meeting of the full council agreed to extend Mr Smith's contract until March. The council also agreed to set aside a £30,000 budget for the recruitment process.

Council leader Ken Robinson said appointing an agency would ensure the right candidate was found.

It is expected the recruitment agency will provide a long list of candidates which will be approved by the council leader and deputy leader.

This will then be shortlisted by a recruitment panel consisting of 14 members.

The appointment panel will also determine the salary to be offered and authorise the recruitment activities and advertising of the post.

The panel will recommend a suitable applicant and their choice will be ratified by the full council.