CRAVEN'S top job lies vacant following the resignation of chief executive Rachel Mann.

Miss Mann joined Craven District Council in 1998. She was appointed director of public services and led a review of the council's senior management. She was later appointed temporary executive director before being offered the post of chief executive in February 2000 following the departure of Gillian Taylor.

In her time with the authority Miss Mann has seen the district devastated by foot and mouth, overseen the transfer of the council's housing stock and witnessed the start of work on Skipton's long-awaited new swimming pool.

She is leaving to work independently as a management consultant.

Miss Mann said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my (nearly) five years at Craven and I feel a great sense of loyalty to the district, the council and all my colleagues here. It is for these reasons that I have not sought alternative employment elsewhere. Craven would be a hard act to follow. Instead I have decided to take a change in career and to work independently.

"I have thought very carefully about the timing in making my decision, although there is never a best time to leave. Mid May will be the start of a new municipal year, elections will have taken place, hopefully, the housing transfer will have been completed and the pool will be well on its way to opening. If there is ever a right time to go perhaps this is as near as it could be.

"I am proud of what I have achieved, I feel the council has moved forward in the time I've been here and I hope that I have helped in that. I've still got three months to work and I will be giving my full commitment in that time."

Leader of the council Carl Lis said the announcement had come as a surprise.

He said: "Miss Mann will be badly missed. She has done a lot of good work and the transfer of the housing stock has taken up a major part of her time."