Audit Commission Local Government Inspector, Peter Kilkenny, has taken up a six-month secondment with the Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust Link4Life.

Kilkenny, a specialist in the sport, leisure and culture field, will report directly to Link4Life’s managing director, Craig McAteer, in the role of deputy managing director.

The appointment builds on a voluntary Audit Commission inspection that took place shortly after the Trust was launched in 2007 and an innovative partnership in developing the long-term vision for extended cultural services in the Borough of Rochdale.

Within the Audit Commission, Kilkenny’s role has extended into the fast emerging Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) agenda, which will come into force in April 2009, replacing the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) regime for local authorities.

Craig McAteer is also chair of sporta, and lessons learned during Kilkenny’s secondment at Link4Life will be fed back to sporta members in the New Year.

McAteer said: “I am extremely pleased that the Commission has had the foresight to agree the secondment. Peter will certainly help the Commission to understand our sector and in turn his expertise will be valuable in driving forward our business and demonstrating the outcomes that Link4Life will deliver on.”