THE new chief executive of Medway Council has been appointed. He is Neil Davies, the council's finance director.

Mr Davies has been acting chief executive since Judith Armitt departed to take charge at the Thames Gateway.

He was formally introduced to the full council last Thursday night by its leader Cllr Rodney Chambers after a day of interviews for the four short-listed candidates.

The decision was formally ratified by an unscheduled meeting of Medway Council's Cabinet held behind closed doors.