County's chief executive comes in on a lower salary

The council confirmed that the pay structure for the authority's top job has been overhauled to cut costs as Richard Flinton was officially appointed as the new chief executive yesterday.

A review was undertaken before the decision was made to appoint Mr Flinton, and a new salary scale of 155,000 to 170,000 created to cut costs by 24,000.

Coun leader John Weighell confirmed that Mr Flinton has been appointed on a salary of 155,000, although he will be awarded performance-related pay rises over the coming years to up to 170,000.

Coun Weighell added: "In the light of the current economic climate, and the pressures on public sector spending, we considered it necessary to review the salary of the chief executive post."

The council's previous chief executive, John Marsden, warned before he departed in March of the financial pressures that his successor would face amid a surge in demand for services while funding from Westminster falls significantly.

Concerns are growing that up to 500 posts could be lost from the local authority, which employs 24,000, during the next three years in the battle to balance an annual 900m budget. One of the greatest pressures on services the council faces is increasing demand for care of the elderly as North Yorkshire has an ageing population.

Mr Marsden, who has taken up the role of North Tyneside Council's chief executive, was on a salary of 179,000 while he was at North Yorkshire County Council.

Council members yesterday rubber-stamped the decision to appoint Mr Flinton, and he is expected to transfer to his new post from his current position as the corporate director of business and environmental services on July 1.

Mr Flinton, who is 45 and lives in Ryedale, has worked for the county council for 23 years. Born and bred in North Yorkshire, he attended school and sixth form college in Scarborough, before studying economics at De Montford University in Leicester.

His career with the authority has included periods as a trading standards officer and assistant chief executive.