Oxford City Council has ended a contract with a private consultant it employed for almost a year to manage the crumbling Temple Cowley swimming pool.

The consultant from Manchester-based MPA, a business human relations and training company, left the pay of the authority last month but is said to have cost the council more than £500 a day working two days a week since May last year.

Opposition councillors have claimed this represents a waste of public money, but the Town Hall has refused to answer questions put by the Oxford Mail, including confirming how much the consultant was paid, who appointed him and why, what his role was and why the contract was terminated.

Mags Mernagh, leisure services manager, said: "We did employ a consultant to manage Temple Cowley Pools on a part time basis. We reviewed the management structure in March and concluded that Temple Cowley staff alongside existing leisure management support could take over the running of this leisure centre. We are now in the process of recruiting a full-time manager for Temple Cowley and Barton Pools."

When the Mail again asked the authority to confirm the consultant's wages, a spokesman said: "As an organisation, we don't answer specific questions about the salaries of staff below those we are required to do so under accounting regulations."

Temple Cowley swimming pool has been a headache for the city council for some time with ivy growing in the roof and a diving pool closed for 18 months.

In February, a three-month investigation into the council's leisure services by independent auditors KPMG showed facilities run by the Town Hall were of an "unacceptable standard".

Liberal Democrat Paul Sargent shadow leisure spokesman, said: "It beggars belief that the council could employ a consultant to manage Temple Cowley Pools on what I understand from council officers to be in excess of £500 a day.

"I find it amazing a consultant has been brought in at that sort of cost what difference has been made and where's the added value for the taxpayer?"

KPMG's audit also revealed a lack of transparency in awarding contracts and weak management.

City councillor Mary Clarkson, executive member for leisure, said: "We did have someone working there under contract.

"What that person was brought in to do was manage the centre in terms of the people and organisation, rather than any refurbishment. We needed to bring someone in from outside this person was effective."

The city council has pledged to save Temple Cowley pool from closure and refurbish the building.

Green group leader Craig Simmons said: "I can think of better ways to spend money. The council has been poor at consulting and making information available to the public."

Independent Working Class Association leader Stuart Craft added: "This is a waste of taxpayers' money. We stand opposed to privatisation and outsourcing."