Outspoken education chief David Ward is expected to keep his job as Bradford Council's team of "super" councillors are chosen this week.

Other portfolios are expected to remain the same with deputy Council leader Councillor Simon Cooke retaining the corporate and regeneration portfolio, Ann Hawksworth with environment and Kris Hopkins taking control of education and housing.

Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton will chair the Council's powerful executive committee for a fourth term and other members are leaders of the Labour group Councillor Ian Greenwood, Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, Dave Green, deputy leader of the Labour Group and Amir Hussain replacing deputy Labour leader Barry Thorne, who has stepped down for family reasons. Front bench Labour councillor Ralph Berry will also sit on the committee which takes most of the Council's key decisions in meetings open to the public.

The Council begins its new year with the groups considering a recommendation from an independent panel that allowances should be increased by up to 72 per cent for some members, giving Council Tax payers an extra £400,000 to pay.

If the recommendations are agreed Coun Eaton would receive a 55.75 per cent increase, taking her allowances from £26,100 to £40,650 with an amount included for telephone calls.

It would end an anomaly where executive members without portfolios would earn the same as those who carry them. Their allowance would be set at £24,150. The portfolio holders would get a 72 per cent increase from £18,400 to £31,650.

The panel, chaired by Rodney Brooke, former secretary of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, has pointed out that the payment to councillors is less than 0.17 per cent of the Council's £800 million budget.

Councils across the country are now required by law to establish and maintain independent remuneration panels instead of setting increases themselves.

Today Coun Eaton praised the work of portfolio members and said a small number of people had taken huge responsibilities.

"They have worked very hard. There are only ten members on the executive and it creates an enormous workload.

"I think it is much more than a full-time job. I know they are very committed and they have made a very great difference. I understand informally that the Labour group will again not be taking portfolios so the responsibility will again not be shared."

Councillor Ward said he was delighted to take the education portfolio at a time when a "monumental" amount of funding was due to be available for schools.