THE outgoing leader of a district council has urged members to support its new chief after stating he had felt isolated in the role.

Neville Huxtable said his health had suffered while steering the Conservative-led Hambleton District Council “through difficult and dark times we have all gone through” over the last three years.

Before the authority’s leadership was unanimously passed to Sowerby councillor Mark Robson at a meeting of the authority, Coun Huxtable singled out his deputy, Great Ayton member Ron Kirk for having shown unstinting support.

The retired farmer, ex-police officer and businessman, who has represented the Topcliffe ward for 14 years, announced his decision to become a backbench councillor in February after reported clashes with fellow Tories over changes to car parking charges.

Coun Huxtable said while he was leaving the council in a stronger financial position than when he became its leader, with an expected £500,000 underspend for 2012/13, he had had to face numerous differences with his colleagues.

He said achievements he was particularly proud of included a scheme which had seen 30 young people become employed, the transfer of public toilets, Hambleton Forum and the World of James Herriot to other bodies and ending some shared services with Richmondshire District Council.

He told councillors: “Please look after your leader. It is a very lonely job. It is part of my life I will never forget.”

Northallerton members Peter Wilkinson and David Blades proposed Coun Robson, a former motorsport firm boss who has served on the council for 14 years, to become the council’s new leader.

Coun Wilkinson said it was clear Coun Robson was able to handle controversial situations, such as the 925-home Sowerby Gateway development.

The meeting also saw Rudby member Bridget Fortune hand over cheques to numerous local groups following a year’s fundraising as chairman of the authority.

Thorntons councillor Bob Baker, who was recently elected as the North Yorkshire County Council member for Sowerby, was chosen as its chairman for the coming year, and Northallerton member John Prest as his deputy.