The search for a new chief executive of Redbridge Council is set to begin after Roger Hampson announced he will be retiring from the role next year.

Mr Hampson, who decided to go part-time around 18 months ago, has said he will step down on June 30 next year.

In a statement, he said: “I have given this long notice so that the search for a new chief executive, and the transition, can be well managed.

“The council faces a huge challenge over the coming years as it seeks to protect service provision and support the most vulnerable in the borough, in the face of a sustained programme of government cuts and significant demographic pressures.

“I will leave behind a council well placed to meet the challenge. We have begun an ambitious transformation programme, have a strong history of delivery and innovation, and most of all have very capable staff at all levels.

“I know that they will all continue to do the best for the borough. I remain as dedicated as ever to Redbridge and look forward to the coming year.”

While it is not yet clear whether Mr Hampson’s successor will be full-time or part-time, the officer – who has been in the role for the past 15 years – made a town hall rich list in 2013 when his annual paypacket was £223,478.

After taking “flexible retirement” last year, he insisted he was doing the same job part-time – drawing criticism from the TaxPayers’ Alliance who questioned what he had been doing in the first place.

They also criticised him for “double-dipping” by taking his £63,204 annual pension and halving his basic salary to £90,771.

A council spokesman said at the time: “There is no implication that he will work only half the time, or carry only half the workload.”

Mr Hampson has worked in local government since 1986 and was previously a research academic specialising in economics.