BASINGSTOKE and Deane Borough Council is set to appoint its new chief executive at a meeting tomorrow night.

Melbourne Barrett has been chosen as the candidate for the top job following a rigorous two-day selection process last week.

Representatives from other partner organisations, who work with the borough council, were included in the panel which selected the successor to former chief executive Tony Curtis, who retired at the end of last month.

Mr Curtis, who is 61, stepped down from his position as chief executive after seven years at the helm of the borough council.

Mr Barrett is currently the executive director of housing and regeneration at the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham with responsibility for a £1billion residential property portfolio.

He has also been taking the lead on bringing forward major regeneration projects, including a recently announced 15-year housing and regeneration partnership with a private sector company and the £8billion redevelopment of Earls Court.

Formerly a director of the London Development Agency and chief executive of the Docklands East London Agency Ltd, Mr Barrett has also worked at Oxford City Council where he led the redevelopment of Oxford’s Westgate Shopping Centre. The 50-year-old father-of-two is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and a graduate of the City University Business School MBA programme.

Looking forward to his new role, Mr Barrett said: “I believe that Basingstoke and Deane is an outstanding place to live and to work.

“I look forward to working with councillors, officers, residents and partners to ensure that the growth that is in prospect is shaped and delivered in ways that are inclusive and benefit local communities.”

If his appointment is approved by councillors at a full council meeting tomorrow night, Mr Barrett will join the most financially resilient council in the spring. and will play a leading role in delivering plans for an almost £500million public and private investment across the borough.

This includes the redevelopment of the 65-acre Basing View business district, with a vision for new office, retail and residential space, and proposals for a council-led development of 8,000 new homes at Manydown.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council leader Councillor Clive Sanders said: “Our borough is on the brink of great things with so much happening and moving forward here.

“This is an exciting appointment as Mel will bring the mix of skills and experience we need to take forward our vision, which includes breathing new life into the Basing View business district and planning for new communities at Manydown.

“Mel will be joining a great team that is focused on making a real difference to the lives of our residents, as shown by our high satisfaction levels. I’m sure he will make a major contribution to an even brighter future for our borough.”

Borough council directors Karen Brimacombe and Laura Taylor will remain as the interim joint chief executives until Mr Barrett joins the council in the spring.