CHARITY regulators have launched an investigation into Edinburgh Zoo's business plan for the deal which will bring two giant pandas from China.The move follows a complaint by Animal Concern, which claims the cost of "renting" the pandas will be £10 million rather than the £6m claimed by the zoo. The complaint questions the conservation benefits of the loan if the plan cannot be sustained and raises concerns over the use of charitable funds. The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) would only confirm it had an open inquiry into the zoo.
A zoo spokesman said it was co-operating with OSCR and said it had been "completely aware" of the cost implications throughout the negotiations on the pandas. He said: "A risk analysis was carried out to avoid any danger of under-budgeting."Meanwhile, the former chief executive of Sunderland Football Club is set to take up the post of interim chief executive at the zoo.
Hugh Roberts, who has also been in charge of Rushden and Diamonds FC and a brewery, will take up the reins tomorrow. He replaces interim chief executive Gary Wilson, who is currently off work following a "malicious" dossier of anonymous allegations against him.
Although Mr Roberts' predecessor has now been cleared, the new boss faces huge challenges to get the troubled zoo back on track after months of infighting, suspensions, a sacking, a vote of no confidence in the chairman and falling visitor numbers. He will also have to oversee the arrival of the two pandas from China, which could happen as soon as July.
Mr Roberts said he was keen to develop a "strong relationship" with staff and members, after bosses said they feared disgruntled employees had leaked private, sensitive and "malicious" information to the press.
Bosses said that Mr Roberts could be in the role for only 12 months. A spokeswoman for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) said the needs of the attraction would have to be reassessed in around a year as the "best fit for the society in the future may be different".
The RZSS was in discussion to lease the zoo to Spanish company Parques Reunidos, but it has confirmed the idea is no longer being considered. A zoo spokeswoman said that Mr Roberts had extensive experience in top-level roles with both charitable and not-for-profit organisations.
In addition to running two football clubs, the 61-year-old was managing director for UK brewer Adnams and an interim managing director with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, Chadwick House Group Limited and the Women's Royal Voluntary Service.