A Scots watchdog has issued a scathing report, criticising unlawful decision-making and governance issues in the hiring of senior staff at Orkney and Shetland Valuation Joint Board (VJB).

Reporting on attempts spanning six years to initially fill the vacant depute assessor and then to replace the outgoing assessor, the Accounts Commission described the processes to manage the contracts and pay awards for the incumbents as seriously flawed.