TRIBUTES have been paid to former Bradford Council leader Ian Greenwood, who has been described as "one of Bradford's finest public servants."

News of Cllr Greenwood's death at the age of just 68 emerged this morning, and since then local politicians, community leaders and members of the public have paid tribute to the "strong and loud servant of Bradford."

And flags at City Hall were lowered to half mast.

Cllr Greenwood, who died after a short illness, had a career in local politics spanning four decades. He was twice leader of the council, and represented Little Horton ward as a Labour councillor from 1995 to 2012. He returned to the Council this year to represent Bolton and Undercliffe ward.

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He had previously served as a county councillor on West Yorkshire County Council, and served as the chair and latterly vice-chair of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund and forged a national profile in the pensions industry as chair of the Local Authorities Pensions Fund Forum, representing funds with a combined value of £230 billion.

He was also on dozens of panels on Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

In 2013 he was awarded the OBE for services to local government.

After having lost his seat in 2012 he returned to the Council earlier this year. He told the Telegraph & Argus he would be focusing on his job as a ward Councillor, rather than eyeing a return to leadership. He said: "My main goal now will be to defend the people of Bolton and Undercliffe from the pernicious cuts being imposed by the government."

Leader of Bradford Council, Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, said: "This is an enormous loss to Bradford District. For a generation, Ian was possibly the most recognisable and certainly one of the most influential figures in Bradford politics.

"He was immensely proud to be able to serve the people of his home city which he loved dearly and he wore his passion for the place and its people like a badge of honour.

"Ian was a pragmatic, big tent politician motivated by an overwhelming desire to bring people together to do the right thing for Bradford. His leadership transcended cultural, community and political party boundaries and his legacy and impact will be long lasting."

Kris Hopkins, former Keighley MP and leader of the Council when it was Conservative run, said: "Anyone who met Ian was quickly made aware of his passion for Bradford. He loved the district and its people and wanted the very best for them.

“Ian’s reputation and sphere of influence also stretched far beyond Bradford and West Yorkshire.

“We had our political differences but I never doubted his motivation in fighting for what he believed in.

“He was one of Bradford’s finest public servants."

Imran Hussain, MP for Bradford East and close friend of Cllr Greenwood said: “Ian was more than just a colleague, he was a close and dear friend to me throughout both the good times and the bad, and I am proud to call him so. He will be deeply missed by the all of those who met him, and my thoughts and prayers are with his family at this deeply tragic time.

“For many years, Ian worked tirelessly for Bradford as a keen and devoted public servant, proud Bradfordian and supporter of the trade union movement. He was a giant of Bradford politics, leading the Council for many years, doing much to turn the City around and make life better for its residents, and his passion, experience and character leaves a huge hole that will stand irreplaceable.

“His passing leaves us all poorer and is a tremendous loss to the City, the wider region and civic politics as a whole, but what will endure is his legacy of positive change across Bradford, his belief that we as a City are stronger when we all work and come together, and his drive to make Bradford an even better place.”

Current Keighley MP John Grogan said: "The poet Kipling defined a mature man as somebody who could treat triumph and disaster as two imposters just the same. Councillor Ian Greenwood lived up to this adage throughout his political life whether in electoral defeat or victory. Born and bred in Bradford, he led the city through some tough times and helped lay the foundations of many of the successful projects coming to fruition today."

The Rt Revd Nick Baines, Anglican Bishop of Leeds, said: “The epitome of the straight-talking Yorkshireman, Ian was a strong and loud servant of Bradford and we owe him a debt for his long and committed service. This is a sad day.”

Perry Austin-Clarke, who was editor of the T&A throughout Ian’s time on Bradford Council, said: “It’s a very sad day for the city. Ian was a deeply committed politician and a caring and compassionate human being who believed fiercely in Bradford and its citizens.

"We enjoyed a few battles during his leadership over the way the T&A reported particular stories and he was never shy about expressing his views. But while he was forthright, he was never less than fair, genuine and honest in his approach and he understood the importance of a free press and the need for reporters to be able to do their jobs. Above all, he always put Bradford first and he worked hard to achieve consensus across political boundaries whenever he felt it was the right thing to do for the city and its people.”

Bradford Council’s Chief Executive, Kersten England, said: "Many, many people in the Council, the pension fund and across the District in our communities, public services and businesses have worked with Ian over the years and will be sharing a huge sense of loss today. Ian worked tirelessly on behalf of Bradford bringing a unique and irreplaceable wealth of experience, wisdom and insight to his work."