A SENIOR official at Harrogate Borough Council has suddenly stepped down from his role.

Paul Campbell, the council’s director of community for the last three and a half years, chose to leave the job on March 27.

He supervised almost 500 council employees and headed several services, including emergency planning, housing, homelessness and bereavements – which are now being looked after by other council chiefs on a temporary basis.

Harrogate Borough Council said it could not arrange an interview with Mr Campbell now that he has left the company. The former director has been contacted directly by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. 

Council leader Richard Cooper, declined to comment on his departure. Mr Campbell joined the council in 2016 and also had responsibilities for community safety, CCTV and parking.

On a £89,727 salary, he was also director of the council’s commercial housing company, Bracewell Homes, which was set up by the authority last year.

A council spokesman said: “Mr Campbell chose to leave the council on 27 March. We wish him well for the future.”