A LONG-serving council officer whose work will leave a lasting legacy in York has announced he is to move on.

Rory Barke, City of York Council's head of community planning and partnerships, is to join Leeds City Council as a chief officer.

Mr Barke joined York council in 1992.

His original role, as a member of a small team in 1992, was to set up and introduce neighbourhood forums, which have evolved into ward committees.

Since then projects he has worked on include setting up the Safer York Partnership, preparing the council's first beacon status bid, fitting York city centre with CCTV and changing the council from the committee to executive system.

Mr Barke also helped create the Building Bridges Forum, which deals with issues facing the ethnic minority community, and he chairs the racial harassment policy group.

He said: "I joined local government because of the vocational side of the job, the chance to make a difference. I have had the opportunity to do that in York."

Mr Barke said he will continue living in York.

"It is a fantastic place with many stunning, historic attractions. But what really makes it is the people."

Updated: 10:58 Monday, November 03, 2003