The chief executive of North Yorkshire Council has spoken of his “immense pride” at helping to shape the authority’s future as he has announced he is to retire next year.

Richard Flinton has confirmed today (Wednesday, August 26) that he will step down from the role as the council’s most senior officer at the end of March next year following a local government career that has spanned almost 40 years in North Yorkshire.

The recruitment campaign for a new chief executive is due to begin in the coming weeks.

Mr Flinton said among the achievements that he is most proud of is the launch of North Yorkshire Council after the county’s previous eight authorities merged in April 2023 to form a single organisation in the largest example of local government reorganisation nationally.

He also helped to deliver a devolution deal for York and North Yorkshire, bringing more decision-making powers on a local level and millions of pounds in additional funding from the Government.

Mr Flinton, who chairs the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, was the chief executive of the former North Yorkshire County Council during the unprecedented challenges posed in the Covid-19 pandemic.

He helped to ensure key public health messages were conveyed to more than 600,000 residents in the county and vital services continued to be delivered during the coronavirus crisis.

North Yorkshire Council’s leader, Cllr Carl Les, said: “I would like to thank Richard for his many years of service to the council and the people of North Yorkshire.

“This is a moment to congratulate him for helping to deliver many important projects none more so than devolution and the successful creation of a new council in the largest local government reorganisation in the country.

“I’ve been one of only two leaders during his time as chief executive, and I would like to personally thank Richard for his unfailing advice and guidance during my 12 years as leader. I wish him well for the future and a happy and healthy retirement.”

Local government finances nationally continue to be under significant pressure against a backdrop of increasing demand and growing pressure on critical services.

However, North Yorkshire Council was named in February this year as the third most productive local authority in the country by the IMPOWER Index, which measures the performance of councils based on outcomes delivered for every pound spent.

The council was announced as the best performing in the North of England which was seen as support for the move to create a single organisation in the county when the previous eight authorities merged from April 1, 2023.

During Mr Flinton’s tenure as chief executive, North Yorkshire Council’s children’s services have been rated as outstanding by Ofsted inspectors, the highest level that can be achieved.

The council’s services for social care for adults were also ranked among the best nationally when a CQC report was published last year.

Inspectors awarded a good rating with an overall score of 81, which at the time placed North Yorkshire Council joint third in the country alongside Wokingham Council with about half of all reports published for 153 local authorities in England.

Mr Flinton said: “This has been an extremely difficult decision to make, and I have loved working with so many great people committed to doing their best for North Yorkshire’s residents and businesses.

“However, the time feels right ahead of the next elections, in May 2027, and with the work of merging eight councils into one new unitary authority largely completed.

“Local government across the country is in a challenging situation facing huge demand and severe financial pressures. However, North Yorkshire Council is strong and well placed to face these. It has already gained an enviable reputation for strong service delivery and championing our county.

“I am immensely proud of all that we have achieved, and I would like to thank everybody I have worked with including councillors, colleagues and partners, for their support and fellowship throughout my career.

“From joining local government in North Yorkshire as a trainee trading standards officer, to becoming chief executive this county has been my passion, as has striving to help its brilliant communities.”

Scarborough-born Mr Flinton was appointed as the chief executive of the former North Yorkshire County Council in 2010, after he had begun his career at the authority on October 1, 1987.

During the past 16 years, he has also been the shareholder representative of the Brierley group of companies, which are firms owned by the council and whose revenue is re-invested into essential front-line services across North Yorkshire.

Initially employed as a trainee trading standards officer, Mr Flinton went on to become the assistant head of trading standards and regulatory services from 1997 to 2003.

He was then appointed as the assistant director for business and community services in 2003 before becoming the assistant chief executive for policy, performance and partnerships two years later.

His final role before becoming chief executive was as the corporate director of business and environmental services, which he held from 2008 to 2010.

In August 2022, it was confirmed that he would be the chief executive for North Yorkshire Council ahead of the authority’s launch on April 1, 2023.