Barking and Dagenham LBC chief executive, Stella Manzie has stepped down from her post, after little more than 12 months in the job, The MJ understands.

According to sources close to the council, Ms Manzie, who earns £145,000 a year, was unlikely to return to the authority after ‘difficult circumstances' locally. Sources have suggested that the chief executive and council leader, Cllr Liam Smith, have clashed in recent months.