Long-serving council boss announces retirement

The chief executive of Leicestershire County Council has said he will retire from the role later this year.

John Sinnott has held the top position at the council since 1994 and is believed to be the country's longest-serving local authority chief executive.

Mr Sinnott has said he will leave the position at the end of November.

The county council said he informed senior politicians of his intention to leave before this month's elections, in which Reform UK became the largest single party at County Hall.

A spokesperson for the authority said Mr Sinnott had intended to leave the council at the end of July.

However, it said he had agreed to stay on in the role for longer, at the request of new council leader Dan Harrison to help the Reform minority administration settle in.

Mr Sinnott's retirement will come ahead of a major shake-up of local government which could see the county council abolished in its current form.

Under government proposals, a mayor, heading a combined authority, would be elected and given more powers over transport, planning and economic growth policy.

The county's existing seven district and borough councils could be abolished and replaced with either one or two new authorities.

By Tim Parker, BBC Leicester political reporter

John Sinnott maybe the most powerful man in Leicestershire you've never heard of.

He's not accepted any invitation to be interviewed on BBC Radio Leicester for years.

But he has worked behind the scenes to build the council's reputation, from the damage caused by 1970s and 1980s Frank Beck care home abuse scandal to, in recent years, recognition as one of the most efficient and productive county councils in the country.

His salary became a focus for Reform UK's electioneering in the last county council elections - the party claiming it's "£53,000 more than the prime minister."

Mr Sinnott probably won't miss that kind of attention.

Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.