A row has broken out over the replacement of Jake Pierges as chief executive of beleaguered Regen 2000.

It has been claimed that senior board members of the funding body were not even told of the move - let alone consulted on a replacement.

Leader of Bradford Council's Liberal Democrats Councillor Jeanette Sund-erland, who sits on the board, said: "I would have expected to at least have been informed but, given the state of relationships, consultation is too much to ask for."

A Bradford Council spokesman admitted Mr Pierges had now retired but refused to name or discuss his successor, saying only that "interim arrangements have been made".

Mr Pierges took over Regen in May. He swapped jobs with Nadim Qureshi, who took over Mr Pierges's previous role leading the Single Regeneration Budget scheme in Manningham and Girlington.

Regen 2000 was set up to regenerate the eastern part of the inner city, and was handed more than £28 million of Govern-ment and European money seven years ago.

However, with just two years left, £15million remained unspent, so the Council has drawn up controversial plans to streamline the organisation. This would give it an extra year to spend the money, preventing the cash from being clawed back.

But the Council suggested the Regen board be replaced by an advisory body.

In the outcry that followed, the board was given the chance to present alternative proposals, and those are now with the Council. The authority is expected to rule on the outcome next week.

Coun Sunderland claimed if the Council presses ahead with its plans no powers will be given to the advisory panel. She also claimed the authority will not allow a residents' representative to chair it.

She said: "We want to reinstate the community input and we want a community member to chair the panel."

Coun Sunderland suggested that if the board's wishes are not included, some members might refuse to sit on the replacement panel, forcing more elections and delaying the change process further.

The Council spokesman said: "The Council has received the board's proposals and will now consider them."