The optimistic Scarborian at the helm of county’s future
Some of the most pressing current issues in Scarborough – schools, roads and the future of our libraries – are in the hands of Richard Flinton.
Mr Flinton is chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council – an organisation that is going through an unparalleled period of change.
Due to Government cuts and the financial crisis in recent years, Mr Flinton and his team have had to make countless difficult decisions about which services – and staff – will stay and which will go.
From summer 2010 to the end of March this year, the council will have saved £94 million. Over the next four years, it will have to save another £74 million.
This equates to 34 per cent reduction in the council’s budget over an eight-year period.
Mr Flinton, who was born in Irton and grew up in Seamer, said: “This is the most challenging thing I’ve done – to lead an organisation through this level of change.
“We’ve lost 2,000 posts. Every team has been restructured and reorganised.
“There has been a great level of instability, but there has also been opportunity and new levels of innovation.
“There has been genuine efficiency, not just spun efficiency.”
Mr Flinton explained that as he came into the post in July 2010, the huge scale of challenges in the public sector was becoming clear.
He said: “The impact has been felt by the public in some services, such as buses. The cutbacks have been very difficult to make, but this is the situation in which we find ourselves.
“I can also say there are some great people who work at the county council. There have been people you’ve worked closely with who have had to leave as services are restructured, which is very difficult.
“However, through this period there has been some very clear political direction, which has helped me understand where the organisation has to move to.”
One of the hot topics at the moment is libraries, with genuine concern among the public that some smaller libraries may close if volunteers don’t come forward.
However, Mr Flinton says he is optimistic about the future of libraries and the prospect of a “genuine partnership” between volunteers and the county council.
He said: “We’re trying to save money and preserve services and in order for it to work, communities have got to come alongside us and help us look at things in a different way.”
Mr Flinton cites the example of Derwent Valley Bridge Library in Ayton, where the process has worked successfully.
He said: “We will provide funding for buildings, IT and some know-how, but we need people to step forward to provide the service.
“We have a long lead-in time – a couple of years – but we need people to step forward quickly. When they do, we will guide them through it.”
Mr Flinton added: “I’m really optimistic we can pull this off. It’s a better option than just shutting libraries.”
Another important area that is never far from the spotlight – and headlines – in North Yorkshire is roads.
Mr Flinton says that this is an area the council aims to protect and that gritting levels have been maintained through winter.
He also highlighted the fact that the council has an extra £50 million from Government and reserve funding to spend on roads over the next five years.
He said: “We really understand the importance of the A64 and the rail connection to York.
“We’re working with MP Robert Goodwill and the borough council to put pressure on Government to improve dualling on the A64 and increase the number of trains coming through to Scarbor- ough. It’s so important for Scarborough and its economy that it is connected.”
Mr Flinton explained that around £30 million a year is spent on looking after the highway condition.
Part of that budget is spent on dealing with dreaded potholes, which have been particularly bad after two harsh winters.
Mr Flinton said: “The roads have suffered due to really adverse weather. We’re aware of that and we’re working hard on them. Now we have to focus on smaller roads and estate roads.”
The council has just approved an increase of 1.99 per cent in council tax – equivalent to just over 40 pence a week for the average
Band D household.
Mr Flinton understands that the increase may prove unpopular with some, but stresses that it is becoming more and more difficult to maintain services and make savings at the same time.
The council tax increase will produce income of around £4.8 million to set against a budget requirement of £363 million.
Even with the tax increase, the council will need to take more than £1.6m from its reserves while implementing savings of around £22m in the next financial year.
Despite difficult and testing times, Mr Flinton remains positive about the coming months.
He is hoping the Tour de Yorkshire in May will bring extra visitors and income to this part of the world, benefitting local businesses.
Mr Flinton said: “The nature of the finish in Scarborough will be spectacular. I’m hoping every B&B will be full and tourism will do really well out of it.” Looking ahead, a programme of change is now planned called North Yorkshire 2020, which looks at how to deal with the ongoing period of austerity.
Mr Flinton said: “We’re not waiting for the next Government. Whoever comes in, we know budgets will be tough.
“We need to be prepared – we need to accept it, roll up our sleeves, get stuck in and protect our most crucial services.
“The next five-year period will be just as tough, but if we can work with communities, it will be better for the cost of services.
“It’s a call to arms for the public to work alongside us. We’re not trying to pass off responsibilty, but we do need people to help us – and I think people in North Yorkshire will do just that.”