Power grab row over new authority’s boss

A COUNCIL has been accused of furthering a “power grab” and a disconnect between the authority and the residents it serves as it appointed its own chief executive to take the reins of a new unitary authority.

North Yorkshire County Council’s chief executive Richard Flinton, has been appointed to oversee the new unitary authority for the county. Following the transfer of the functions of the county’s seven district and borough councils and county council to North Yorkshire Council from April next year, Mr Flinton will have responsibility for an annual budget of £1.4bn and a workforce of 10,500 staff.

An extraordinary meeting of

North Yorkshire County Council saw elected members on the opposition side of the council chamber at County Hall in Northallerton initiate a round of applause to greet Mr Flinton to the council chamber after unanimously voting to approve his appointment in the £180,000 to £197,000 salary range.

Mr Flinton responded by saying the job would be “an enormous privilege” and that he felt confident officers and members could come together to address challenges facing the authority.

Councillor Carl Les, the authority’s leader, said an appointments committee had unanimously recommended Mr Flinton to the role following a robust selection process. But Independent councillor John McCartney said: “We were told this was not a power grab. Then we found out that North Yorkshire County Council was to be a continuing authority. Now we have got a continuing chief executive and no doubt we will have continuing directors.”

THE CREATION of a new single council for North Yorkshire presents “immense opportunities” to streamline services and free up millions of pounds to alleviate pressure on funding, the authority’s newly-appointed chief executive has claimed.

Richard Flinton, who appointment was approved yesterday, said he felt “privileged” to take on a key role in shaping a complete overhaul of local government which will involve North Yorkshire County Council merging with seven district and borough councils.

“We are faced with some unprecedented challenges that have arisen from rising inflation as well as pressures on social care and also the issues which all local authorities are facing in recruiting and retaining staff to their workforces. But with those challenges come immense opportunities, while working with colleagues in North Yorkshire’s district and borough councils to introduce the new unitary authority. We will be able to streamline services and ensure even more value for money for North Yorkshire’s taxpayers, freeing up millions of pounds in funding. That funding will be used to support frontline services and also help alleviate the financial pressures which we all are experiencing.”

Mr Flinton is the current chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, a position he has held since 2010. “So much good work has been done already alongside our colleagues in the district and borough councils, and I do feel privileged to be able to play a part in shaping the way forward in what is such a huge moment in North Yorkshire’s history.”

The newly-created authority will deliver services ranging from social care and education to waste collection, recycling and highways maintenance. It will also pave the way for a long-awaited devolution deal which could see decision-making powers shifted from the Government to York and North Yorkshire with additional funding of more than £540m over a 30-year period.

North Yorkshire faces particular pressures on social care services as the county has a large and growing ageing population. More than 152,000 people are aged 65 or over – equivalent to one-in-four of the county’s total population – and the number is expected to increase significantly in the next 20 years.

Council leader Carl Les described the recruitment process as “extremely competitive” with applications received from across the country in both public and private sectors. “I do believe that we have appointed the individual who is perfectly suited to leading the way forward at what is such an important time for North Yorkshire.”

Scarborough-born Mr Flinton began his career at NYCC as a trainee trading standards officer in 1987.

I do feel privileged to play a part in shaping the way forward. Richard Flinton, chief executive of the new single council for North Yorkshire.