THE job which is known as "the hottest seat in Bolton" has again been advertised.

Council chiefs want to recruit a new director of social services on a salary of between £51,735 and £57,483 a year.

It was originally advertised in the autumn after previous director Steve Gallagher left.

But council chiefs decided they were not satisfied with the candidates and decided not to appoint.

Since then deputy Andy Robertson, who did not apply, has taken charge in an "acting director" role.

The post has been advertised in the national press saying that the council is looking for someone "with the drive and vision to meet effectively the challenges we face to take us into the next millennium."

A town hall spokesman said: "We did not appoint first time round and said that after a period of time, we would re-advertise the post."

The job has traditionally been the local authority job which has been closest to controversy.

But Bolton also has a reputation for pioneering some of the most forward-thinking developments in social services.

These include the neighbourhood network scheme for the mentally handicapped, the creation of a nationally-renowed drug action team and Bolton has been chosen to be a pilot study for a national initiative called "Better Government for Older People."

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