THE chief executive of Basingstoke council, Katrine Sporle, is leaving to take up a high powered Government post.

Katrine, who has been head of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for the past eight years, has been appointed as the country's chief planning officer.

During her time as chief exec she has overseen - through five different council leaders - the town centre redevelopment project of Festival Place, which opened this week.

Her new post - under the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott - is based in Bristol.

One of her main tasks will be the reform of the planning system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Welcoming her appointment, Planning Minister Tony McNulty said: "I am delighted to have Katrine on board and look forward to working with her during this exciting time.

"Katrine's track record speaks for itself and I have every confidence she will help us take our reforms forward.

"We have embarked on a massive reform of the planning system and the planning inspectorate is one of the our key partners. We want to make the planning system fairer, faster and more flexible."

For more on this story, see The Gazette on Friday