THREE men have put themselves forward as candidates to replace Councillor Lynne Hillan as leader of Barnet Council.

On Sunday Tory members will get to vote for either cabinet members Andrew Harper and Richard Cornelius or backbencher Mark Shooter to replace Cllr Hillan, who stood down last month as she is suffering from cancer.

However, Cllrs Harper and Shooter have declined to speak to the Times Series, citing draconian party rules, while Cllr Cornelius is uncontactable as he is on a business.

Interim leader Cllr Harper said he would stand the day after announcing Cllr Hillan was stepping down, and has held the post of deputy leader since she was crowned in December 2009.

The Garden Suburb member has been in effective control of the council since January, and is thought to be backing the much-criticised One Barnet programme, which would see several council departments privatised.

As cabinet member for schools and young people he has overseen some significant results in these areas, with more schools becoming good or outstanding in Ofsted inspections.

However, he may face a backlash from colleagues over the council’s handling of the MetPro security scandal this year and the failure to hold an independent inquiry over it.

Totteridge resident and Hatton Garden jeweller Cllr Cornelius will be able to rely on at least one vote, from his wife Cllr Alison Cornelius.

He is currently cabinet member for housing, planning and regeneration and has given backing to several One Barnet reports for that portfolio, which includes departments among the first to be outsourced.

However, it is believed he could pull back on some of the riskier aspects of the scheme, which is vehemently opposed by unions representing council workers.

Last September Cllr Shooter, who was elected to the Hendon ward last May, narrowly missed out in a leadership contest with Cllr Hillan triggered by the allowance hike scandal.

During his bid last summer Cllr Shooter told the Times Series he would review the One Barnet programme and would save sheltered housing wardens, which have subsequently been scrapped.

The self-made millionaire, who plies his trade in the City, also promised a review of the way Barnet Council is managed and accused some senior party members of bullying councillors and staff.

The winner of Sunday’s vote will become the leader of the Tory group and then be nominated to become council leader at the next full council meeting.