BOROUGH council leader Mike Hughes's tenure at the helm will finish at the end of the month, according to sources.
In a secret deal negotiated this week, it is believed Clr Hughes will resign from the leadership in late February, but stay on as a Labour councillor until June. There will then be a leadership election to decide who will take over.
Labour officials have remained tight-lipped on the issue, but it is believed members of the north west regional office attended Thursday's group meeting to thrash out a deal.
Clr Hughes was de-selected by his party last year and will not stand in June's elections.
Labour officials are keen to draw a line under the affair in a bid to have the best chance of winning at the ballot box.
l For more on this story, read Thursday's Guardian.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article