FORMER Bradford Council chief executive Richard Penn has a new job - helping other chief executives overcome their problems.

Mr Penn, of Westwood Drive, Ilkley, who has just retired from his £110,000-a-year post because of stress, will act as an unpaid consultant when problems arise.

And the appointment could involve him in disputes between council officers and his former employers.

This could involve settlements and early retirements leading to negotiations between chief executives and local authorities.

Mr Penn, 52, left Bradford Council on grounds of sickness last month after ten years as the chief officer.

He will now act as a consultant to the Association of Local Authority Chief Executives (ALACE), as a back-up to Bill Miles who has been representing members since 1986.

Mr Miles took up the voluntary role when West Yorkshire County Council - where he was chief executive - was abolished. Mr Penn announced his new role when he stepped down from ALACE as honorary secretary. "There is no salary. I am simply helping ALACE," he said.

If problems arise in the future with Mr Penn's successor he could find himself embroiled in the dispute.

Council leader Ian Greenwood said he would 'not feel it appropriate' for Mr Penn to represent any new chief executive in Bradford in the foreseeable future.

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