THE NEW man at the helm of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council started his role today.

As previously reported by The Gazette, Melbourne Barrett was chosen as the new chief executive of the borough council after previous chief executive Tony Curtis retired last November.

Mel, who was chosen by a panel of councillors through a vigorous two-day selection process in December, was previously the executive director of housing and regeneration at the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

Having made a number of visits to the council over the last few months, the 50-year-old father-of-two is spending his first days meeting council staff and councillors and finding out more about what residents are contacting the council about, frontline services and major regeneration projects in the borough.

Mel said: “I am joining the council at the start of what promises to be very exciting year for the borough, with the Local Plan going to public examination and milestones in the Basing View and Manydown projects.

“It is great to be joining such a high-performing council that is rated so highly by the residents it serves. I was attracted here by the positive attitude I saw in the council towards giving the borough an even brighter future, as well as delivering efficiently the services residents need every day.”

He added: “I look forward to working with councillors, officers, residents and partners to contribute to the next steps in the journey that the council has already been on and to continue making a real difference to our communities.”