CONTROLLING Tories on Bromsgrove District Council were accused of operating an "old boys' network" this week by engaging a former chief officer as a consultant.

The leader of the opposition Labour group, Cllr Peter McDonald (Uffdown and Waseley), said he is dismayed to learn the authority is set to hire David Hunt, its former planning chief, as a consultant to oversee a feasibility study as part of its "blue print" for the future development of the town.

Mr Hunt, who could not be contacted for a comment, retired last January from his post as one of the council's senior officers.

Cllr McDonald said: "Mr Hunt took voluntary redundancy and left with a golden handshake saying he was doing the council a favour by leaving as it would save the authority his salary.

"Now he is set to come back. This to me smacks of the old boys' network. The post should have gone out to tender."

Mr Hunt's appointment now has to be ratified by the full council.

Council leader Cllr Nick Psirides (Con, Norton) replied: "I cannot think of anyone more suitable to carry out a feasibility study than David Hunt who, as a former chief planning officer, knows the area and the council's requirements intimately.

"An outside consultant would have cost the council much more and taken longer to carry out the task."