SPECULATION is growing that Bradford's most senior Council officer may be about to leave after ten weeks on the sick.

Richard Penn, 52, of Westwood Drive, Ilkley, reported sick four weeks after Councillor Ian Greenwood ousted John Ryan as leader of Bradford Council.

The leader of the Council's Tory opposition group Margaret Eaton has written to the acting chief executive Philip Robinson saying she believes that Mr Penn's long absence may be causing lack of co-ordination in the Council.

In the letter she wrote: "Rumours are rife in City Hall suggesting that major stresses and strains exist between the new Labour leadership and the senior officers.

"This, if correct, cannot be helping the smooth and effective running of the district."

She says her concerns are for Mr Penn, but she is also worried about "practical difficulties" his absence appears to be having on the Council's performance.

Mr Penn's role as the £105,000-a-year chief executive involves him in a number of other organisations such as Bradford Congress and the board of Bradford and District Training and Enterprise Council.

In a brief statement Mr Penn said: "I am taking some time away from my work on the strongest advice of my GP and the Council's occupational therapy unit. It is for no other reason.

"I need a complete break from work. It was my decision to take the advice of my GP."

He would not comment further.

Council leader Coun Greenwood said he had no reason to think Mr Penn would not return to his post, but sources close to the heart of City Hall speak of a rift between the new Labour leadership and the chief executive.

A report to last week's corporate executive sub-committee names acting chief executive Mr Robinson as the chief officer expected to go to a Eurocities conference in France next month. The chief executive normally attends.

David Kennedy, a senior officer who has been acting chief executive while Mr Robinson was on holiday, said at the meeting that there was a mistake in the document.

But the document has fuelled rumours that Mr Penn, who has been with the Council for ten years, may not return to his post.

Mr Penn's wife, Jill, is the chairman of the Ilkley Council for Voluntary Services and chairman of the Airedale NHS Trust board.

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