A senior member of Wiltshire Council who was heavily involved in the Salisbury recovery effort has left Wiltshire Council and her £100k a year salary.

Laurie Bell, director of communities and communications left the council this week, having worked at Wiltshire Council since its formation in 2009 and before that spent three years with North Wiltshire District Council.

Senior councillors said it was the right time for a change of direction for her.

Deputy leader, and cabinet member for communications and communities, Cllr John Thomson said: “An opportunity presented itself to her and she took it, it is the right time for her to change direction.

"There is nothing negative there and we let HR deal with all employment issues.

"It was not a member decision.”

15 directors make up the extended corporate leadership team, with salaries ranging from £95k to £109k.

As the director of communities and communications Ms Bell earned between £105k and £109k a year. It has not been confirmed if or when the role we be filled.

At the top of the Unitary Authority, three corporate directors have combined salaries of at least £430k.

Cllr Thomson confirmed the move but did not reveal if the position will now be advertised to find a replacement for the top job.

Ms Bell was one of the key directors following the Salisbury incident and lead the council’s communications response to the Novicock attack which created international media interest.

Speaking to PR weekly following the incident in 2018 she said: "I’m not sure, prior to Sunday 4 March 2018, how many people had heard of Salisbury; yet this extraordinary situation propelled the city into the worldwide media and made it a focus for central Government."

During an officer appointment meeting held on Tuesday (April 9), councillors also confirmed new people to take over a range of top jobs, including the director for legal, electoral and registration services, director for housing and commercial, director for corporate services, director for public and director for highways and environment.

Helean Hughes was confirmed to the post of Director, Education and Skills at last year's Officer Appointment Meeting.

The meeting, closed to the public and press was held at County Hall in Trowbridge.