Man behind City of Culture in Yorkshire has second job in Scottish capital

Martin Green, who has been drafted in to advise on a revamp of the world-famous New Year’s Eve celebrations, said the “chance to be anywhere near a project around Hogmanay and Scotland was irresistible.”

However Tory councillor John Fareham said: “Like many people in Hull I was under the impression he worked for us full-time. While I am not in a position of oversight on contracts or obligations or seek to deny the right of people to seek work where they find it, I will not be the only person in the city raising eyebrows at what appears to be a diverse geographical spread of endeavours.”

Hull 2017 said Mr Green would use his annual leave entitlement to carry out the one-day-a-month consultancy role. Council leader Steve Brady said they’d been told about the role at a recent Culture Board meeting, and were “content.” He said: “What he does on his days off are completely up to him. I have no complaints about what he has done in Hull - he’s done a great job.”

He said plans for New Year’s Eve in Hull were something “totally different.”He added: “Whether he (Mr Green) is here or not the project will go ahead and it will surprise people as it has throughout the year.”