PLANS to appoint a former head of the civil service to a key role in BCP Council’s urban regeneration company, Future Places, are set to be approved.

Lord Kerslake is set to be appointed as an independent chairperson of the company Future Places.

He led the Department for Communities and Local Government from November 2010, stepping down in 2015.

Read more: BCP Future Places outline plans for first projects to be revealed in September

Papers have been released ahead of a BCP Council cabinet meeting detailing the high profile appointment.

Future Places is an arm’s length council owned company, working on 19 projects relating to development locations and themes which have been identified by the local authority.

As part of the business plan for Future Places, an independent chair and further non-executive directors (NEDs) ae due to be appointed to the board.

A report to next Wednesday’s cabinet meeting sets out the background to the appointment of Lord Kerslake, with a recommendation to approve.

Read more: BCP Future Places: Council chiefs quizzed on conflicts of interest

If this goes through, deputy council leader Philip Broadhead will step down.

Two additional non-executive directors (NEDs) are also due to be appointed.

Once these have been approved, the leader, Cllr Drew Mellor will step down from Future Places.

Before joining the Civil Service, Lord Kerslake received a knighthood for his services to local government, spending eight years serving the London Borough of Hounslow and then a further 11 years leading Sheffield Council.

Read more: BCP Council plans to loan BCP Future Places Ltd £8million

He was interviewed by the managing director and chief operating officer of Future Places, as well as BCP Council’s chief executive, the leader and deputy leader.

Opposition leader, Cllr Vikki Slade said she has also had an introductory meeting with Lord Kerslake.

The report to cabinet members said: “The chair, in particular, will be expected to use his professional contacts to further the network of the company, to supervise delivery of strategic objectives, and to test the appropriateness of governance structures.

“The recruitment of two further NEDs has been halted temporarily to enable council to approve the appointment of Lord Kerslake as independent Chair of BCP Future Places.”

Lord Kerslake will be paid between £18,000-£30,000. It is unclear what hours are included in this package or the exact salary he will be paid.

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We have asked BCP Council for clarification on this matter. More details will be confirmed once the appointment is approved, a spokesperson said.

The report added: “The comparable remuneration ranged from £18-30k for chair roles and £8-15k for NED roles, the proposed appointments fall within this range and have been included within FuturePlaces budget – approved by cabinet and council as part of the business plan.”

Future Places is set to present outline business cases to cabinet for Christchurch and Poole Civic Offices on September 26 before the proposals go to full council.

The following month at a meeting on October 26, cabinet members are due to see a similar presentation in relation to the future development of the public realm at Poole Quay and a residentially led redevelopment of Chapel Lane, Constitution Hill and Poole Civic Centre car parks.