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'Hit squad' of experts will help city council

A "Hit squad" of prominent figures in Scottish local government, including key council leaders and chief executives, is to be brought in to help chart a way out of Aberdeen City Council's precarious financial crisis.

The team of experts being enlisted by the council will form a "peer group" to offer advice and assistance in carrying out the improvement plan demanded by the Accounts Commission following the watchdog's damning report into the council's finances.

However, the leader of the beleaguered city council, Kate Dean, angrily refuted suggestions by opposition politicians that the team of troubleshooters would be "running" the authority.

The members of the peer group – who are providing their services free of charge – include George Black, chief executive of Glasgow City Council, Tom Aitchison, chief executive of Edinburgh City Council, Alex Linkston, chief executive of West Lothian Council, and Gavin Whitefield, chief executive of North Lanarkshire Council.

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