A cash-strapped council today announced the appointment of a financial expert to help it out of its current crisis.
Robert Coomber will take up the post of interim chief executive with Aberdeen City Council on Monday, August 18.
He will serve until a successor is found to retiring chief executive Douglas Paterson.
On the recommendation of the Accounts Commis
sion, he will also perform the role of financial adviser to the council.
The council has been told it needs to make almost £50 million in savings to balance its books.
Earlier this year thousands of protesters took to the streets over planned cuts to services.
A group of experts brought in to help the council with its finances has advised that redundancies will have to be made.
Mr Coomber, 57, served as chief executive and director of finance at the London Borough of Southwark for 12 years. He has experience in senior posts at four London councils.
Mr Coomber said: "I am looking forward to working in Aberdeen.
"This is an interesting job in an interesting place for a period of time that works for me and Aberdeen City Council."
Aberdeen City Council Leadership Board members said in a statement: "We are pleased that Mr Coomber has decided work with us in a dual role of interim chief executive and external finance adviser.
"We are satisfied that he is the right person for the job during this significant time for Aberdeen City Council."
The full article contains 250 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
