The chief executive of the new North Yorkshire council will receive a payment of almost £200,000, councilors reveal Yorkshire News

A meeting of senior advisers heard that the salary range of £180,000 to £197,000 for the position, which entails leading a workforce of more than 10,000 and revenue spending of £1.4bn, was in line with similar authorities. .

However, as well as managing an ongoing £350m capital programme, the North Yorkshire chief executive would also be responsible for a number of businesses, all with separate workforces and budgets that the county council has formed to help generate money for front line services.

However, the meeting was told that the proposed salary could appear “insulting” to potential candidates compared to the £168,000 salary and performance-related pay of the chief executive at Hambleton District Council, which serves a population of less than 100,000.

Officials said the merger of the seven district councils and the county council would lead to savings in chief executives’ salaries across the county of more than £1 million a year.

The anticipated savings follow a warning from Durham County Councilor John Shuttleworth that after a unitary authority was created there in 2009, the potential savings had been offset by salary increases for senior civil servants.

It also comes just a week after councilors were told that the crisis facing the job market was such that, despite extensive efforts to advertise the job, only one candidate had applied for the job of fire chief. £130,000 with the North Yorkshire Brigade.

Labor group leader Councilor Steve Shaw Wright said it might be worth the authority spending a bit more “to find the right person”.

However, the council’s executive member for finance, Councilor Gareth Dadd, told the meeting that the salary and performance-related pay on offer would attract a suitably qualified and experienced field.

He said: “What we are proposing is basically the middle of the range. It’s about striking a balance.”

Coun Dadd said North Yorkshire had “so much more to offer” candidates than a great salary, with a different lifestyle than other parts of the country.

Stronger Communities executive member Councilman David Chance added, “Any officer worth their salt would want to come here.”

A national recruitment drive will be launched later this month and the successful candidate is expected to be selected by the end of July, subject to council member approval.