MYSTERY surrounds the sudden departure of a planning chief who has been in the job for just five months.

New Forest District Council (NFDC) is refusing to explain the surprise exit of Flo Churchill, who left her £75,000-a-year post as executive director of housing and planning.

The issue was raised at the council’s ruling cabinet but members were told only that Mrs Churchill had left her post and returned to her consultancy business.

No reason for her departure was given.

She joined the authority in May after arriving from Sheffield City Council, where she was interim director of development services.

At the time she said that she was “tremendously” excited about starting the “very special” new job.

In a statement issued shortly after her appointment, NFDC said she had worked for “a range of local authorities”, including Fareham Borough, East Hampshire and Havant councils.

Her departure comes at a critical time for NFDC. The Tory-controlled authority is in the process of updating its Local Plan – a blueprint that identifies potential uses for a huge number of sites across the district.

Other issues facing the council include an £800 million plan for 1,500 homes and a luxury marina on the old Fawley Power Station site.

And Associated British Ports (ABP) has warned that Southampton docks are nearing capacity, which could result in new proposals coming forward for Dibden Bay.

Cllr David Harrison, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group, said: “It was only about three weeks ago that I joined other members of the planning committee to meet with her informally for the first time.

“The news comes as a total shock. It was a key appointment and her vast experience was expected to steer us through finalising a local plan, which is already behind schedule.

“Housing and planning are critically important issues in the New Forest with huge challenges ahead.”

The council leader, Cllr Barry Rickman, said: “Sometimes things just don’t work out.”

Speaking at the cabinet meeting he said: “Flo Churchill has left her post of executive director planning and housing to return to her consultancy business, with effect from October 31, 2017.”

Mrs Churchill’s short spell at NFDC is not her only unsuccessful encounter with the authority. In 1989 she applied for a job as a junior planning assistant and was turned down.