WALTHAM Forest Council has appointed Boris Johnson's deputy chief press officer as its new head of media relations.
Joe Derrett, who is also a former head of the London Labour party's press office, will begin his role next month.
The council's corporate communications department, which produces the council information sheet WFN, spent more than £2m in the last financial year.
The net figure was £623,000, but the council's opposition Conservative group believe the cost to the taxpayer is much higher as other council departments pay to advertise in WFN.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here