A specialist recruitment firm is being paid £60,000 by Hull City Council to headhunt candidates for key posts at a new company being set up to oversee the UK City of Culture 2017 programme.
Documents released by the council show London-based executive recruitment firm Odgers Berndtson was chosen without the authority entering a formal competitive tendering process.
In the report, the council's town clerk Ian Anderson said the move was justified because of the need to set up the new company as quickly as possible.
"The proposed contract is significantly below the level at which the European Union procurement directives require a full tender process and only marginally above the level at which three quotes are required.
"Given the need to establish the City of Culture company quickly to progress the programme, it is accepted there is a need for progression of a contract.
"The proposed contract is accepted as being value for money."
Odgers Berndtson, which includes Sheriff of Hull Baroness Bottomley on its board, will be involved in the recruitment of the new company's chief executive and programme director as well as its chairman.
The appointments are expected to be made later this summer.
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