The new chief executive of Bradford Council is taking on an unenviable but nonetheless exciting challenge. He is joining a Council with a reputation for perhaps not the tightest control over finances and one which has been heavily criticised for the way it has dealt with the severance of several senior officers from their posts.

It is a Council which, rightly or wrongly, is perceived by local people in particular to be moribund and wasteful. Whatever higher purpose is discussed in committee rooms and indeed behind closed doors during Labour Party meetings where the real decisions are taken, the average man in the street generally feels he is not getting the best service from the Council.

To some extent that is inevitable with local authorities. But after barely more than a week in the job Ian Stewart will already be aware that there is a tough task ahead. So it is particularly good to see that he intends to tackle the job by first finding out what Bradford ratepayers want from their Council and tasting real grassroots opinion. He has already learned quickly that there is a mountain to climb in improving the city's external image.

Mr Stewart is reported to have surprised staff with his sense of humour. It is a trait he will need plenty of in the years to come. We wish him all the very best in the task ahead - though by all accounts he has the dynamism and enthusiasm to give the Council the much-needed top-to-toe shake-up that many Bradfordians consider is well overdue.

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