A NEW top boss is set to be appointed at North Yorkshire County Council next week.

The authority’s chief officers’ appointments committee has selected Richard Flinton, 45, to replace John Marsden, who left in March to become chief executive at North Tyneside Council for a year.

The county council will be asked to approve the selection next week, after which Mr Flinton’s new salary will be disclosed.

Mr Flinton is currently the county council’s corporate director of business and environmental services and has worked for the authority for 23 years.

He lives in Ryedale and was born and bred in North Yorkshire, attending school and sixth-form college in Scarborough, before studying economics at De Montfort University, Leicester.

He said: “I am extremely proud to have been nominated as chief executive. The county council plays such a major part in maintaining the quality of life of everyone in North Yorkshire, providing vital services such as adult social care, children’s services, highways and transport.

“The coming years will be very challenging for local government and I look forward to facing these challenges alongside all of the dedicated county councillors and staff who together are committed to working to the utmost on behalf of the communities of North Yorkshire .”

Mr Flinton’s career with the authority has included periods as a trading standards officer and assistant chief executive.

Since 2008, he has been director of business and environmental services, responsible for highways, waste disposal, economic development, countryside services and trading standards.

Council leader John Weighell said: “There will be many challenges to be overcome throughout local government in the coming years, as the nation deals with its very pressing economic problems.

“We believe Richard Flinton, with his wealth of experience in every level of local government, is exactly the person we need to guide North Yorkshire through this demanding and, in some senses, unpredictable period.”