The appointment of a new council chief executive will go-ahead - with an annual salary of up to £167,000.

Last night Harrow Borough Council’s call-in sub-committee dismissed a challenge of the Labour administration's decision to bring back the role.

The opposition Conservative group, which scrapped the role last year, called for a review of the decision.

The Conservative group's deputy leader Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane told the meeting: “There is real concern about the cuts we are being told this council is required to make over the next four years and it is a very tight situation.

“But under this decision we find we have to spend more money on a chief executive.”

Cllr Macleod-Cullinane argued a consultation with council staff was geared toward bringing the senior position back.

He said: "The Labour group say they want to engage with residents but with this process they didn’t want to talk about something which would cost them money.”

Replying to the challenge, the council's deputy leader Cllr Keith Ferry said: “There is no legal requirement for the cabinet to consult about the management structure of the council."

Cllr Ferry also pointed out the consultation to delete the role under the Conservative group in November last year only received three responses, while 384 people responded to the Labour administration’s in the summer.

He said: “Our consultation was head and shoulders above yours.

“In order to implement our policies and make the savings required, we need a chief executive.

“The people of Harrow will want their council to run as efficiently as possible, which can only be done under a chief executive.”

The committee decided the challenge should go no further and the hiring process will now begin.

The council hopes by early next year to fill the position, which will have an annual salary of between £147,813 and £167,997.