North Yorkshire residents to see £1.5bn budget focus on value
Anton Hodge has been appointed as the new interim corporate director of resources for North Yorkshire Council, taking responsibility for a £1.5 billion annual turnover. Succeeding Gary Fielding at the end of May, Mr. Hodge has committed to ensuring that taxpayer funds are utilized effectively to maintain essential services for the county’s 620,000 residents and local businesses.
Management of essential county services
The remit for the role is extensive, placing the authority’s finances at the center of a wide portfolio. As the principal financial adviser, Mr. Hodge will oversee the budget for services including waste collection and recycling, social care, highways maintenance, and leisure facilities. His responsibilities also extend to customer services, procurement, technology, and property management.
Mr. Hodge brings 35 years of financial experience to the position. He has served as an assistant director of resources since 2010, working through the transition to the unitary North Yorkshire Council in April 2023. His career includes previous roles at Cumbria and Cambridgeshire county councils, as well as a secondment to the Department for Education.
National productivity rankings and regional performance
The leadership change occurs as local government finances across the UK face sustained pressure from rising demand for critical services. Despite these challenges, North Yorkshire Council was recently ranked as the third most productive local authority in the country according to the IMPOWER Index. This metric evaluates the outcomes delivered for every pound spent, positioning the council as the highest-performing authority in the North of England.
Council leader Cllr Carl Les, who chaired the appointment committee, noted that the authority remains in a financially sound position. He highlighted that the 2023 merger of eight previous authorities into a single organization has provided a foundation for this performance. Mr. Hodge previously gained experience as a chief finance officer during a five-year secondment at the former Ryedale District Council, providing him with a deep understanding of local service delivery.
Leadership transition at the end of May
Gary Fielding is departing the council after nearly three decades of service to take up the role of corporate director of finance at Lancashire County Council. Cllr Les credited Mr. Fielding with playing a vital role in establishing the council’s current financial stability as he returns to his home county.
Mr. Hodge confirmed he intends to leverage the council’s existing financial strength and technical ingenuity to further improve service delivery. The transition will be finalized by the end of May, marking the start of the council’s fourth year of operation since its launch. He will lead a team focused on maintaining high performance levels while navigating the ongoing national pressures on municipal budgets.
Source: North Yorkshire Council
