FORMER Swindon social services director Keith Skerman is in the middle of a financial row after it emerged he is being flown from London to Scotland every week to fill a job vacancy.

Mr Skerman, pictured, went on sick leave from the borough council as Kent County Council was called in to sort out his department's zero-star rating in February last year.

At the time a statement was released by Swindon Council saying he was on "sick leave as a result of serious illness," which was followed by his departure shortly afterwards.

Now Mr Skerman is being flown from London and put up in Aberdeen for four days a week as he fills the acting role of chief social work officer on the city council.

The council said the role has to be filled by law and Mr Skerman has been employed for three months while a permanent appointee serves out his notice with his current employer.

The move has been branded "ludicrous" and "irresponsible" by Scottish politicians.

He was hired to fill in as Aberdeen City Council's head of social work (CSWO) after two recruitment campaigns failed.

A council spokesman said it was "delighted to have been able to secure an interim CSWO with the exceptional skills and formidable experience Keith Skerman brings to the job".

He added: "The council's corporate management team believes that, even in the short time he has been in post, Keith has already begun to achieve great things in the job and is having a major positive impact on services to our citizens."

The council refused to say where 52-year-old Mr Skerman travelled from to get to his new job.

Mr Skerman lives in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire. He said it was for the Aberdeen council to comment on his appointment.

"I think you should direct your inquiries to the council," he said.

Mr Skerman is believed to work freelance through Solace Enterprises, specialists in providing senior management services to the public sector.

The Aberdeen Council spokesman said its contract was with Solace and not Mr Skerman directly.

"We do not feel it is appropriate to comment," he said. "Senior staff are entitled to expect the same treatment as any other officer."

Defending its decision to hire Mr Skerman, the spokesman added: "The position of chief social work officer is statutory and one Aberdeen City Council must, by law, maintain.

"We have just secured an appointment to the post on permanent basis, but are waiting for the individual to work their notice with their current employer.

"You are talking about a demanding post that requires very particular skills, experience and qualifications."

Aberdeen's former head of social work policy, Stan Smith, left following a revamp of the service last year, along with the two officers capable of providing cover the role.

A fourth high-ranking officer still provides cover.

Nobody applied in-house for the job, which will not be filled permanently for another three months.

Until that time Mr Skerman holds the post.

But Northeast Labour MSP Richard Baker said: "I think it's absolutely outrageous.

"If the council is going to justify this, people will rightly want to know exactly how much it has cost taxpayers for flying someone in.

"People will really be questioning if the council is spending its hard-earned money wisely."

Aberdeen North MSP Brian Adam said: "It strikes me as irresponsible of them to let people go before they had anyone to fill the post, especially if they are letting people go across the board."

He added: "If they are not releasing the cost to hide the fact they have had to pay over the odds for additional costs of flights and accommodation on top of the salary then that's not right."