Liverpool City Council has defended spending £445,000 on recruitment for six senior vacancies. It followed claims that the authority had broken its own rules when using recruitment agencies to fill vacancies. A leaked memo states chief executive, Colin Hilton, and other directors ‘have not always followed' the council's contract standing orders by failing to get at least three quotes from recruitment agencies for the cost of filling a vacancy. A council spokesman said: ‘The council obtained value for money and the consultants have provided an excellent service.' But deputy Labour leader Paul Brant hit back, pointing to the council's current budget problems as it battles to make up for a £62m shortfall. He said: ‘To spend £500,000 on head-hunters at a time of financial crisis is astonishing.'
