The chief executive at Harrow Council is on leave following the announcement the new Tory administration seek to scrap the role as a cost-cutting measure.

When council leader Susan Hall (Conservative) announced last month she was consulting on removing the role, held by Michael Lockwood, the Observer was told Mr Lockwood would continue in the position.

Mr Lockwood did not attend the council’s Remembrance Day service, however, and the council have since confirmed to the Observer that he is on leave, but would not confirm when this leave began.

Observer reader David Brough said in a letter to this paper: “In recent times Harrow Council has been in political chaos with three different parties supposedly in charge in a very short space of time.

“With continuing political instability and uncertainty the role of the chief executive in keeping the services going is even more important than ever. What is Councillor Susan Hall’s real motive? Does she think she can do the job of the chief executive as well as being leader of the council?”

Councillor David Perry, the leader of the Labour Group, told the Observer: “It is very destabilising for the council and the staff structure. This has not been done in the right way. It is a back of the fag packet proposal.

“As a chief executive, in the Civic Centre and around the community he is very popular. He goes out of his way to help people and at a time when there are huge challenges facing the council he tries to do what is right.”

Independent Labour leader and previous leader of the council Thaya Idaikkadar added: “If you sack the manager of Manchester United, you will save millions. The problem is, you will also lose all your matches.”

The consultation on the role ends on Friday and is only open to Michael Lockwood to contribute, and not tax payers.

Mr Lockwood could be offered a six-figure pay out should he be dismissed, but the Conservative administration maintain it would still enable the council to make much-needed long term savings.

A spokesman for Harrow Council said: “Michael Lockwood is taking a few days leave to consider his options.”