Aberdeen council bosses have spent more than £23,000 to help just four senior civil servants work in the city in the last three years.
New Freedom of Information data obtained by the Press and Journal show that since 2016, four staff members have been handed out thousands of pounds to help with the likes of rent, commuting expenses and estate agent fees.
This week, it emerged that one of the new £115,000 a year directors, hired to transform the council in December 2017, has been suspended from his post- who townhouse insiders have now identified as commissioning director Frank McGhee.
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Council chiefs would not confirm that Mr McGhee is the employee in question or the reason for his alleged suspension, but the figures show the former Derby council boss has claimed £1,551 from the relocation fund.
The fund is to help relocate key staff to the north-east and has also been used for the likes of teachers.
Short-lived city centre director Marc Cole, who lived in England during his time at the council, claimed £10,006 between July 2016 and October 2017.
A council spokeswoman said that there was a sliding scale in place on repayments from the relocation fund should an employee leave the authority.
If leaving within six months, all money received would have to be paid back, six months to a year and the figure is 50%, between 13 and 18 months, it is 25% and 18 months to two years, is 12.5%.
She said: “The council’s relocation policy allows eligible employees who have to relocate to the Aberdeen area to take up their appointment, to claim relocation expenses in accordance with the provisions of the policy.”
When questioned about Mr McGhee, she added: “We do not comment on individual staffing matters.”
