ONE of the top law firms in Birmingham is being employed by Malvern Town Council

to try and recover some of the money paid to former town clerk Stuart McDonough.

Town clerk Shirley Young met with partners from Pinsent Curtis Biddle last Thursday for two-and-a-half hours.

She later told the full council that they had covered "considerable ground" and that she would prepare a more extensive report by August.

A Public Interest Report by the District Auditor into events surrounding the decision to grant early retirement to Mr McDonough was published in April.

Among its recommendations were that the council should seek legal advice on payments made.

Councillors agreed at a meeting in May to pursue the recovery of £11,338 given to Mr McDonough in lieu of notice last year and £9,650 paid following his subsequent re-employment as a consultant.

Councillors have already agreed to limit costs paid out in legal advice to £5,000. Members voted unanimously to refrain from contacting the law firm individually and to conduct matters only through the town clerk.