THE Northern branch of the Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has appointed Carol McCann to the new role of head of public policy and communications.

Ms McCann, who will be based in Darlington, will be responsible for implementing regional PR and policy across the North-East, North-West and Yorkshire and Humber regions, where the organisation has 19,500 members.

She has previously worked in senior policy-making roles at County Durham and Darlington Primary Care Trusts, Middlesbrough Council and North Yorkshire Police.

* A LEADING figure in the North-East housing sector has joined the Newcastle office of project management and cost consultants Faithful+Gould.

Colin Garbutt has joined the company as an executive consultant with responsibility for developing its affordable housing sector portfolio.

He brings more than 35 years of experience in the management and delivery of social housing schemes, and has been responsible for a number of high-profile estate and area regeneration projects.

Mr Garbutt was formerly the regional chairman of the National Housing Federation, and is a past chairman of the Northern Counties Branch of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

l CHARTERED surveyor storeys:ssp has invited Harry Shipley, a leading figure in the sector, on to its board to take charge of all town planning work on a national basis.

Mr Shipley previously worked as commercial director with Enviros Consulting, and was a member of the team that managed and delivered Gateshead Quays on behalf of Gateshead Council. He has also worked on major planning schemes including the recent first phase of Science Central, the largest planning application submitted to Newcastle City Council in recent years.

l BUSINESS advisory firm Deloitte has appointed a new partner at its Newcastle practice in John Charlton.

Mr Charlton has returned to his native North-East after re-locating from the firm's Leeds office, and steps up from director to partner in the audit team.

Senior partner Paul Williamson said: "John's knowledge and experience will play a significant part in helping us to reach our challenging growth targets and his appointment is a clear illustration of our ambition to make our North-East business performance even stronger in the future."

l THE Harrogate branch of Skipton Building Society has welcomed its only female member of staff to the team.

Amber Smale has been appointed as a customer advisor, having moved from the company's outlet in Bingley, Yorkshire.

Paul Schofield, branch manager at Harrogate said: "I'm delighted to welcome Amber. I'm sure she'll be a real asset to the branch and will whip the boys into shape."

l CHARTERED accountant Tait Walker is continuing its expansion plans with the appointment of Stephen Ridley at its Newcastle office.

Having studied for the last four years at Leeds University, where he gained a BA in Economics and an MA in Economics and Finance, Mr Ridley has returned to his native North-East to progress his career.

l SPRINGS Health and Leisure Club has appointed a new head of management at its branch in South Shields, South Tyneside.

Alison Bell now oversees the six-strong management team at the location, relocating from her position as reception manager at Springs in Sunderland.

She has also spent five years in a management role at a top hotel in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

l Andrew Michaelides is continuing family tradition by joining The Assembly Rooms in Newcastle.

The venue has been owned by the Michaelides family since 1974, and Mr Michaelides has joined his uncle, managing director Antony Michaelides, as a trainee conference and banqueting manage