THE former chief executive of two Oxfordshire councils who was paid £180,000 to leave has landed another job.

David Hill left South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils in June 2017 after less than a year in the role.

At the time, the councils considered suspending him from his post but said in a secret report that a pay-off was preferable because a 'thorough investigation' would have 'tied up' officials.

He started work as interim chief executive at Three Rivers District Council in Hertfordshire on Monday.

Mr Hill will spend 29 weeks in post, working four days a week, and will be paid £113,332.

READ AGAIN: REVEALED: Hushed-up £200k pay-off for South Oxfordshire council chief David Hill

When he left South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse, councillors were banned from discussing his departure.

The councils also spent about £3,000 on legal advice as it sought to stop the Oxford Mail from publishing the story. It published it anyway.

Formerly the chief executive of Guildford Borough Council, Mr Hill left that authority in 2013 after a four-month investigation into his conduct. That was ditched after he left and that council did not disclose the nature of the grievance.

Three Rivers District Council said it would not be formally announcing Mr Hill's appointment, which was made at a council meeting last week, because he is a temporary member of staff.