Harrow Council’s Conservative administration has voted to delete the role of the authority's most senior civil servant.

Leader Councillor Susan Hall (Conservative) launched a consultation in October seeking to axe the £183,097-a-year role of chief executive to save money, and had the move rubber stamped by her cabinet on Wednesday.

The position was held by Michael Lockwood, who resigned before the consultation had concluded, but while the position has been deleted it could be reintroduced by a potential Labour administration should they return to power in May following the scheduled council elections.

Addressing opposition councillors, Ms Hall said: "A weaker leader would need a chief executive. I do not need a chief executive.

"If we end up with a weaker leader who requires to spend an extra £250,000 on an officer to fulfil their needs then that is up to them."

Her fellow Tory councillors also weighed in, saying that the role that used to be filled by Michael Lockwood was not necessary.

Councillor Stephen Wright, Harrow's property and major contracts cabinet member, said: "I haven't missed him."

Labour leader Councillor David Perry said: "The way that you have handled this has been terrible. This council is not just about the leader. You are on the wrong side of the staff in this building and your administration is damaged as a result of the way you have made a 'click of a finger' decision on this."

The statutory duties of Mr Lockwood, who had been in post for more than six years, have been taken on by Paul Najsarek, the council’s corporate director for community health and wellbeing.

Mr Lockwood will officially leave the council next month, but is currently on annual leave.

Ms Hall told the Observer after the meeting: “We have seen a number of councils lose the chief executive position as they reorganise senior management teams.

“We felt it was absolutely right to look at the top of our management structure for savings and in this case take £250,000 a year out of the equation, while simultaneously protecting those council staff who deliver front line services."