| West Berkshire Council has appointed the man behind Newbury's 20-year regeneration project to run the £200m authority while it searches for a new chief executive, newbury.net can reveal.
Nick Carter, the director who has overseen the town's Vision project, along with advising on the scrapping of the council's 10 year contract with private firm Amey, will take the reins from October 3, when the council expects to have filled the £100,000 a year post.
The move expands Mr Carter's role and influence at the council at a sensitive time for the controversial Vision, as the timetable has already slipped on two key projects.
Outgoing council boss Jim Graham told staff on Friday afternoon: "I'm sure you join me in wishing Nick well with this interim appointment."
Along with the delays to the proposed daytime car ban in Wharf Street and Market Place, as well as another stalling of a new six screen cinema, Mr Carter is a key figure in rehiring the 400 staff outsourced to Amey three years ago. In April, Newbury's favourite website revealed that the £104m contract had collapsed, when it emerged that the private firm couldn't make the efficiency savings it had promised shareholders. | 
