Gareth Daniel is expected to go by the end of the month

The borough’s chief executive will be leaving his post following a break down in relations with the newly elected leader of the council.

Following a crunch meeting this afternoon (Friday) between Gareth Daniel and Cllr Muhammed Butt, the long-standing town hall boss is expected to go by the end of the month.

Yesterday (Thursday) the Times exclusively revealed that both men had refused to work with each other with a source revealing that Mr Daniel’s ‘days were numbered’.

Cllr Butt, who took over the post in May after ousting Cllr Ann John OBE, and Mr Daniel, who has held the �203,342-a-year post for 14 years, are believed to have clashed over the contents of a report into cost-cutting at the council.

An announcement has been sent out to council employees from Cllr Butt and the corporate management team which has been leaked to the Times.

It reads: “It is with regret that we write to inform you that Brent’s Chief Executive, Gareth Daniel is to leave the council imminently.

“Gareth has worked for Brent for 26 years including 14 years as Chief Executive. In that time he led the council through an enormous amount of positive change and was the driving force behind the council’s decision to build a new Civic Centre in Wembley.

“He is a highly respected senior officer across London and beyond and will be greatly missed by the organisation and its partners.

“The council will now begin the process of recruiting a new Chief Executive which is likely to take several months. “We are aiming to appoint an external interim Chief Executive in the next few weeks who would remain in place until a permanent replacement is found. Fiona Ledden, Director of Legal and Procurement will deputise in the meantime.

“We all know that change can be unsettling. However, we want to reassure you that we will do all we can to ensure that the council continues to provide the vital services that our residents depend on.

“We are also confident that you will support us in achieving this in the months and years ahead.”