Leeds City Council boss announces resignation

Leeds City Council chief executive Tom Riordan has announced his intention to leave at the end of the year. After 14 years at the helm of the second-biggest local authority in the country, Riordan said the time was right to try fresh challenges. Riordan said: “After 14 of the happiest years, I’ve decided the time is right to move on. I have genuinely loved being chief executive of Leeds City Council, working with the best people in the best city. “We’ve established a collaborative Team Leeds culture that delivers, working together with our partners to ensure we have a city that’s regenerating and growing sustainably. “A generation of children are growing up supported by outstanding-rated services, vulnerable people are supported wherever possible and older people are helped to live independent and fulfilling lives, in a city admired for what it gets done and the way it works. “This has been the most difficult decision, but the time’s right to give someone else a chance to do one of the best jobs in the country.” Riordan was awarded a CBE for services to local government in the 2020 New Year Honours List and played a prominent role in leading the city through the pandemic. Leeds City Council leader James Lewis said: “Tom is an outstanding chief executive and public servant who has worked tirelessly alongside senior politicians, officers and partners over many years with an unwavering determination to achieve the best for Leeds. “We’ve faced a lot of challenges, not least on the financial front. His contribution has been invaluable in helping us deliver council services that are highly rated, while building stronger communities where people are supported towards better lives and life outcomes. “Tom has played a key part in helping us to get to where we are today and has built a strong team of senior officers to continue that work. I’d like to take this chance to thank him for his considerable contribution and dedication to the council and city.” As one of the longest-standing UK local government chiefs, Riordan has made a big impact in Leeds, working alongside council leaders and other senior politicians. Grosvenor chief executive James Raynor told EG that Riordan was among a group of “dynamic local leaders” along with Liverpool city region mayor Steve Rotheram, outgoing West Midlands mayor Andy Street and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, “pushing forward their growth agendas”. During his time as chief executive, the council has been involved in attracting Channel 4, Burberry, the Bank of England and the UK Infrastructure Bank to the city. It has also worked to facilitate the openings of the Trinity Leeds and Victoria Gate shopping centres. The council has also supported the growth of new digital, med-tech and innovation-based sectors. The council has invested in an ongoing programme of social housing construction, along with infrastructure to support city development like the East Leeds Orbital Route. Riordan said: “While we have many challenges, in common with all councils, Leeds is in as good a place as it can be to weather them. There is also a generation of bright, diverse leaders emerging from communities and in business, public life and the arts who make me hugely optimistic for the city’s future.” A recruitment process will begin shortly to find his successor. Image from Leeds City Council