Opposition members of Bradford Council today called for full details of the salary awarded to the new chief executive to be made public.

The Liberal Democrat and Tory groups also called for national applicants in the final line-up and said they did not want "municipal cronyism".

The call came as the Council prepared to advertise nationally for the top officer who would replace former chief executive Richard Penn.

But Council leader Ian Greenwood said he would also recommend external advisors be brought in over the appointment.

Coun Greenwood said: "We would want to involve experts from outside.

"In appointing the head of the paid services we would want the experience and knowledge which would not exist within the organisation to guide us."

He said the new chief officer's pay scale would be made public but not the exact amount.

Mr Penn has retired on health grounds after being absent since last June suffering from stress.

It is understood he earned £110,000 a year, but the council has never given the exact figure.

Coun Greenwood said the starting salary for the new chief executive could be pitched at around £85,000, but it may go up to around £90,000. Leader of the Council's Liberal Democrat group Councillor Jeanette Sunderland said the Council should not try to get a new top officer on the cheap.

She added: "We don't want cronyism. I would want it advertised nationally and would like to see outside candidates in the line-up."

Leader of the Council's Tory group Councillor Margaret Eaton said: "We feel the public has a right to know all the details."

There has been speculation in City Hall that director of regeneration David Kennedy was being groomed for the job. He stepped into Mr Penn's shoes for a short time when the chief executive's official deputy Philip Robinson was away.

But Mr Kennedy said today: "I don't think it is right for me to comment when the job has not even been advertised. When it is, I shall make my position clear."

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