CONCERNS have been raised about the appointment by the council of former Labour press officer Joe Derrett as a media and external relations manager.

Liberal Democrat and Conservative members are angry that they were not consulted on Mr Derrett's appointment.

Mr Derrett is a former press officer for the London Labour Party and is said to have left his last position at City Hall because he did not want to work under a Conservative Mayor Boris Johnson.

Cllr Matt Davis, Conservative group leader, is now seeking a meeting with the council's chief executive Andrew Kilburn to discuss the matter.

He said: “I am extremely concerned that anybody who has been a partisan polical party press officer should have been employed by the council without any reference to members.

“It will be for him to prove to the non-Labour councillors that he can do the job in an unbiased, even-handed and non party-political manner.”

Mr Derrett played a prominent role in Labour's 2006 local election campaign.

Lib Dem Cllr Bob Sullivan was angry about perceived negative campaigning by Labour in the run up to the poll.

A Labour leaflet contrasted hooded teenagers under the banner 'Under the Lib Dems' with two police officers under the banner 'Under Labour'.

Cllr Sullivan branded the campaign 'dirty'.

He said: “If Mr Derrett had anything to do with those leaflets I am concerned.”

“If that is the nature of what he does I don't want him anywhere near our borough.”

Lib Dem group leader John Macklin also said the matter was of “grave concern” and that the council should not be making overtly political appointments.

Mr Derrett begins his new job next month.

The Guardian is trying to contact Mr Derrett and is awaiting a response from the council.