The new boss of Eden Council has worked for local authorities from North Yorkshire to Worcester, and says: "Local government has always felt the right place for me to be."

But Rose Rouse, who took over as chief executive this week, is not a stranger to Eden.

She started her working life at the headquarters of Cumbria Police just outside Penrith.

She adds: "I think it's a fantastic place to be, and I'm absolutely over the moon to be back working here."

Rose, 49, is originally from Bangor in Northern Ireland and after attending grammar school in Belfast she went to Hull University to study history.

After a spell teaching English in Turkey she did a postgraduate law course and then worked at Carleton Hall as a civilian researcher for the police.

But as soon as she moved to her next post, at Harrogate Borough Council, she knew she was in the right job.

"I loved local government from the beginning," she recalls.

"Councils can make a massive difference to people's lives, and I got really excited about it."

So Rose brings extensive experience to Eden Council.

After working as policy officer at Harrogate she worked for the Local Government Association, with councils from across the Yorkshire and Humberside region, including some of the large metropolitan authorities.

She has also held senior positions with Selby District Council and Worcester City Council.

She takes over at Eden from Dr Robin Hooper, who stepped down earlier this year after seven years as chief executive.

There could be significant developments within the next few years that Rose will oversee.

The council is buying 86 new houses from Persimmon Homes to let as affordable housing.

A district masterplan is proposing a new relief road to link junction 41 of the M6 with the A66 and A6 - taking some of the pressure off the very congested junction 40 on the motorway, at the edge of Penrith.

Land near the proposed new route could be used as an industrial area for agricultural or technical businesses or distribution, bringing new sorts of employment to the area.

Rose expects the new post to be a contrast with the last one.

"Worcester was extremely urban. I was excited about coming back to a rural area.

"There's a lot of strength in rural areas. Rural people don't always wait for things to be done for them. They tend to get on with it.

"We'll help where it's needed, back off where necessary and try to remove any barriers."

In Worcester Rose led a transformation programme, to deliver improvements for customers and examine new ways of working.

All councils are facing budget pressures so she says: "I'll want to understand where we can meet the challenges of the future.

"There's always room to change because technology is changing, always the opportunity to do things in a different way."

But she stresses: "It is important to listen to everybody in the council about how we are performing.

"Eden is a small council that punches above its weight.

"I think the Eden district has got an amazing future. It's pretty damn good now."