SLOUGH Borough Council spent over £33,000 recruiting its new chief executive through a recruitment agency, it has emerged.

The money was paid to London based, Penna, to put candidates through a selection process, including aptitude and ability tests. No psychometric testing was used. A total of £15,000 was paid to the company for advertising the post, including media production costs for a video.

The process resulted in current interim chief executive, Roger Parkin, being selected (pictured). The costs emerged in a council response to a Freedom of Information request this week.

A council spokesperson said: “Penna is a top notch agency and it is normal for authorities to use these agencies to recruit for important roles such as the chief executive.”

As reported, the appointment of Mr Parkin, which is awaiting ratification from full council on November 28, had been heavily criticised by former deputy leader, Cllr Sabia Hussain. She claimed during a public meeting that he had engaged in inappropriate behaviour, including being aggressive and swearing in relation to colleagues. Leader, Cllr Sohail Munawar dismissed her claims at the meeting on October 30.

Meanwhile, the council has sent a letter to all councillors warning them that the disclosure of an investigation report into employees, including Mr Parkin, is likely to be a breach of the Data Protection Act. As reported by The Observer, the probe, carried out by investigator Richard Penn, looked into whether there had been a plot to oust former chief executive, Ruth Bagley, from the council. It recommended a further enquiry into Mr Parkin’s conduct.

A council spokesperson said it was for the Information Commissioner to decide if a breach of the act had occurred and it had to follow procedure.