Bristol City Council has announced the appointment of its digital manager, Steven Hilton, as senior officer for economic, green and digital futures.

The £71,000, two-year fixed-term appointment, will see Mr Hilton oversee the council’s economic development activities, in particular as a leading low carbon and digital city. He will work closely with business in the city to help deliver new jobs and create opportunities for innovation.

However this description has led to confusion over the role, with some city residents claiming that it is essentially the same job as the controversial place making director role, which was announced last year.

“This is a very different role from that of the place making director,” explained Bristol City Council spokesman, James Easy.

“Steven will be managing three directorates and is already heading-up the climate change team and the Connecting Bristol digital team.

He explained that the place making director role seeks to facilitate the economic development of the city through marketing and promotion, whereas Mr Hilton’s job is a management role that oversees the policy and portfolio of his directorates.

Part of the role of place making director, currently held by Bristol businessman Mike Bennett, is to capitalise on the city’s reputation as a green and digital city and to attract business to the city by promoting innovation.

Mr Hilton has led the council’s Connecting Bristol programme for the past four years, spearheading projects to widen digital inclusion, wireless and broadband connectivity and green ICT policies.

 “Bristol is one of the best placed cities to lead the economic recovery, and this is in part down to the success of our digital and low carbon sectors,” said leader of the Council Barbara Janke.

“But we must remain competitive and work as effectively as possible with business in the city.

“Stephen has made a real impact leading Connecting Bristol, helping to make Bristol a leading digital city and I wish him well in his new job.”

She denied that the position was a fudge and stated that it will lead to real benefits to the people of Bristol, especially in helping keep low-income families connected to the internet.