Council chiefs will make a series of changes to their recruitment process following a report by watchdogs over the controversial appointment of Suffolk's £220,000 chief executive.

Council chiefs will make a series of changes to their recruitment process following a report by watchdogs over the controversial appointment of Suffolk's £220,000 chief executive.

An independent investigation was launched into the appointment of Andrea Hill as chief executive of Suffolk County Council in April and yesterday district auditor Robert Davies presented his report to the council's audit committee.

Mr Davies said he felt the council had not acted unlawfully during the process but he found a number of deficiencies that need to be rectified.

He said: “In my view, the areas for improvement I identify do not mean the process was fundamentally flawed or unlawful… The process could have been better run with better information provided at times.

“...It makes it difficult for the council to demonstrate value for money was given sufficient consideration.”

Kevan Lim, deputy leader of the Labour group, speaking at the meeting, described the situation as the most incompetent use of taxpayers' money he had seen in his life.

Councillors voted to accept the report.