Bury Council chief executive resigns to save cash

Mr Sanders will step down in the new year

The chief executive of Bury Council in Greater Manchester is to step down in 2011, it has been announced.

Mark Sanders, who is believed to earn about £150,000 a year, said the move would help the authority weather government cuts to council budgets.

Bob Bibby, the Conservative leader of the council, told councillors of the decision on Wednesday night.

Mr Sanders attracted anger last year when he said "jobs would go" to help the council meet an equal pay claim.

His comments were made after a tribunal ruled that 1,200 female employees were entitled to the same bonuses as men in similar low-paid jobs.