SENIOR Labour Party colleagues today paid tribute to Rod Hills.

York MP Hugh Bayley said the former York council leader had had an enormous impact on the city.

His political achievements had included improvements to council housing with Tenants Choice and the Citizens Charter.

"He brought in some major improvements," he said. "He was impatient with people who didn't want to change.

"These are tragic circumstances. I feel desperately sorry for his children, stepchildren and partners.

Coun Dave Merrett, who served as deputy to Mr Hills for about 12 years from 1990, said he had led the Labour group out of opposition against a "fairly sleepy Tory council", and created an authority providing good quality services, with one of the best housing departments in the country.

He said he had been deeply shocked and saddened by the news of Rod's death.

Selby Labour MP John Grogan said: "For public service over two decades, Rod Hills made an outstanding contribution to the city of York and was perhaps the principal architect of the council's reputation as one of the most progressive in the country."

Steve Galloway, Liberal Democrat leader of the council, said: "The news will come as a deep shock to many residents in York although tragedy and controversy dogged Rod over the last few years of his life. This news will add a final and desperately sad twist to events.

"I extend the commiserations of all those connected with the York council to Rod's friends and relatives. There will be a more appropriate time to pay tribute to Rod's work for the people of York.

"For now one can only record that one of the dominant figures of the last two decades of the city's life is no longer with us. Residents will mourn his passing."

Ron Cooke, former vice chancellor of the University of York, where Mr Hills was a lecturer, praised his "substantial contribution" to the development of the city.

"He did much to improve the lot of the less fortunate among us," he said.

Updated: 11:05 Wednesday, July 30, 2003