Proposals to bring back the role of chief executive at Harrow Borough Council will be discussed by councillors next week.

The council’s cabinet has been recommended to reinstate the position of the most senior officer following a consultation earlier this year.

The cabinet will meet on Wednesday next week and if the proposals are approved the recruitment process will start immediately.

It is understood the successful candidate will be paid a lower salary than the previous chief executive and one of the new chief executive's first tasks will be to prune back management at the council.

The council's Labour leader Cllr David Perry said: “With £75m of Government cuts being imposed on Harrow Council, and our residents, we need a sound strategic management structure to protect services.

“As leader of the council it is my role to represent the communities across Harrow and the chief executive will deliver value for money by making the council as efficient as possible.

“This joint leadership is in contrast to the void left by the previous administration.

“It is a sensible and long-term decision to reinstate a chief executive. I will work closely with the successful candidate to ensure that residents’ voices are heard, their priorities reflected in how the council is run.”

The consultation held earlier this year surveyed 5,000 people including council staff, councillors and union members.

Just 384 responded, but two thirds were in favour of reappointing a chief executive.

In November last year the previous Conservative administration scrapped the position, which had an annual salary of £183,097, as a cost cutting measure.

Former chief executive Michael Lockwood left his job with a payoff of £168,000.

Conservative group leader Cllr Susan Hall said: “Labour has been itching to bring the position back since day one, and specifically didn’t ask the Harrow residents who will have to pay for it what they thought in case they said no.

“It also shows Labour have no confidence in their ability to govern or to make big decisions – a problem made worse by Cllr David Perry only putting in two days a week as leader.

“Labour will be making lots of cuts to services in the near future, and will blame everyone but themselves in the process.

“I hope residents will remember that Labour can find the money to pay someone a fortune so they can do less work, but apparently can’t afford to keep Harrow clean, look after the vulnerable and protect the services residents deserve."