Exclusive by Adam Nichols

The man who transformed City of York Council into one of Britain's finest landlords is retiring.

Bob Towner, director of community services, took control of an unremarkable housing department 15 years ago, and turned it into one of the country's top performers.

He leaves behind a service which records high levels of satisfaction from the council's 9,000 tenants, operates a system for housing improvements which is the envy of other authorities and gained a Government Beacon Award meaning it is a leader in its field.

He leaves social services in the city with 75 per cent of customers considering their care good or excellent.

"I set myself certain objectives in life and I've always said that I want to leave when these achievements are fulfilled," said Mr Towner.

"I want to go at the top of my career and feel I have got York to a position of recognition and respect nationally."

Mr Towner, 57, started making improvements as soon as he took over the post.

He said: "We decided to sharpen up a whole range of services that we offered. We started to modernise homes based on tenants' requirements, not those of professional surveyors.

"The house might belong to us, but it is somebody's home and we were dealing with it as though it was just bricks and mortar.

Now the Tenant's Choice scheme has been highlighted by the Government as good practice and has greatly increased satisfaction of tenants.

Mr Towner's achievements include ploughing £6.5 million of Government money into transforming the Bell Farm estate.

He said: "At the time somebody had come from London for a meeting about the project and a taxi driver had recommended that they didn't go there.

"I'm sure no taxi drivers would think that now.

For the past eight York has been acknowledged by the Department of the Environment as being outstanding in its housing services.

Last year it was one of only five awarded Beacon Status for its work on improving housing maintenance.

Mr Towner said: "I am very proud for all the staff for what we have achieved. When we do something we do it well.

"Without being too arrogant, our success is about doing things properly and doing them well."

But now he has made the decision to hand over the reins.

He said: "This department has 1,500 employees and a budget of £100 million a year. It's big business by anybody's standards.

"I was walking in Rosedale last weekend, it was a beautiful day and I really enjoyed it, then I came home and had to work. I've got to a stage where I don't want to do that. There are a range of things I enjoy doing which I'm not spending enough time on."

Mr Towner will continue to live in York and will stay involved in housing and social care by lecturing at universities.

He expects to maintain contact with friends at the council.

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