Aberdeen City Council’s £80,000 a year “happiness tsar” has been signed off work with stress.

Takki Sulaiman, the local authority’s head of communications, proved controversial when he appointed to the role last year.

The former Labour councillor previously worked in communications for the scandal-hit Tower Hamlets council in London before jetting north to join the staff in the Granite City.

Four councillors who were on the nine-man selection panel said they were not aware of his political past as an elected member.

Fears were raised that the Labour-led administration had hired him based on his party loyalties.

SNP group leader at the time Callum McCaig called for his appointment to be halted pending an inquiry.

Now it has emerged Mr Sulaiman has joined other senior staffers like infrastructure director Pete Leonard on the sick list, with both believed to be receiving full pay while off.

Council insiders last night indicated that Mr Sulaiman is unlikely to return to work, amid rumours he has been seeking new employment outwith the authority.

He also hit the headlines after a high-profile drive to ban local authority officials from speaking to the press.

A town house source said: “He has really rubbed people up the wrong way since he got here. I hear he has been looking for other jobs and it wouldn’t surprise me if he didn’t return.”

Hiring an interim has been ruled out.

SNP group leader Stephen Flynn said: “I think the SNP position has been absolutely consistent: we don’t think Aberdeen City Council should be appointing a spin doctor.”

Quizzed on whether the position would be abolished following council elections in May, Mr Flynn said: “If we are in a position of influence we would seek to create a better arena for our democracy and that wouldn’t include spin doctors.”

Liberal Democrat group leader Ian Yuill said: “The view of the Liberal Democrat group was the creation of this post was not the best way forward for the city and we took a different view to other parties on this.”

But finance convener Willie Young said: “The decision to appoint a head of communications was taken unanimously by the council.”

A council spokeswoman said the authority didn’t comment on staffing matters.