Aberdeen City Council’s controversial £102,000-a-year spin doctor position could be abolished during this week’s budget talks.
Finance officers at the authority have drawn up a list of potential savings that could be made as the council battles to close a £17.5million black hole.
Among the £30million worth of options is to make “savings arising from management structure changes within the office of the chief executive”.
Town house sources have since indicated this relates to the position of Takki Sulaiman, the council’s head of communications.
The former Labour councillor was appointed with as the council’s “happiness tsar” in 2014, though opposition leaders were furious and believed the administration had hired him based on his party loyalties.
In November, it emerged Mr Sulaiman – who previously worked in communications for the scandal-hit Tower Hamlets council in London – has been signed off with stress.
Last night, SNP group leader Stephen Flynn said it was “incredibly likely” his party would put scrapping the post in their opposition budget having opposed the creation of the role from the start.
He said: “This is a common sense proposal, the council has never needed a spin doctor.
“It’s been a complete failure from the outset and the council has not benefited from this.
“I hope all parties can get round the table and support this.”
Finance convener Willie Young did not deny the position mentioned was Mr Suliaman’s.
He said: “All I can say at the moment is that it is an option that is being looked at.
“It will be up to elected members to decide on the day.”
An Aberdeen City Council spokesman said: “We are not in a position to comment on individual budget options prior to the report being considered by the full council on February 22.”
