The boss of Barrow Borough Council could soon be getting a new job title.

A high-ranking panel of councillors will be asked this week to change the title of Sam Plum from executive director to chief executive.

Mrs Plum took over the £97,000-a-year top job in summer and is also seeking permission to hire a new director of people and place.

The role, costing up to £37,270, would lead a review of the council’s workforce.

It would also pick up the council’s regeneration plans following the departure of Steve Solsby, who left for another role in summer, having led on the Barrow Marina Village project.

On Wednesday, councillors will be asked to delete his former post of assistant director of regeneration and built environment and replace it with the new  directorship.

Barrow council, which has had to cut £7.6 million from its budget since 2010, has pledged that any staffing review would not be a cost-cutting exercise.

Instead, it maintains that the aim is to align services with the council’s priorities.

The authority is close to drawing up a new council plan to cover the next four years after a new Labour-led administration and council leader took charge in May.

A report said: “It is proposed that the executive director be retitled as chief executive; this does not alter the scope or responsibilities of the job and better represents the authority of the position.”

The meeting of the council’s executive committee looks likely to pave the way for other changes.

A report said that if the staffing review results in an increase in budgets or a change in headcount, the council’s executive committee would be consulted.

Furthermore, there are plans to create an entirely new position of policy and engagement officer at the council, costing up to £41,380.

The post is described as supporting the chief executive and leading on engagement, communications, liaison and relationships.

If the committee gives the go-ahead, the decision will need to go in front of the full council for ratification.

As a result, it is planned to hold an extraordinary meeting on November 12 to decide the changes and start the recruitment process.

Mrs Plum joined this summer taking over from Phil Huck, who held the executive director role for seven years.