York’s council leader has condemned claims that the authority faces a £500K bill after an employment tribunal hearing.
We reported last week how City of York Council was ordered to pay £10,500 to former corporate director of place Neil Ferris for failing to offer him a suitable alternative role while making his post redundant.
Employment Judge Ian Miller stated in his ruling the payout was understood to be a gateway to other entitlements including pension costs which the tribunal heard were worth around £350,000.
Cllr Paula Widdowson, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said the council’s treatment of Mr Ferris “has already cost York taxpayers around half a million pounds in legal fees and pension costs alone”.
We asked City of York Council for its response and the costs of the case. A spokesperson said: “We’re not making any comment on the judgement, as the legal process is ongoing.”
Now Labour council leader Cllr Douglas has responded said Cllr Widdowson had made speculative and inaccurate claims which could interfere with due legal process.
She added the Liberal Democrats should not seek to judge after their handling of the departure of former council chief executive Mary Weastell while in they were office.
A Public Interest Report in April 2021 found a roughly £404,000 payout to Ms Weastell was not properly approved and was arguably unlawful.
It also found then council Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Keith Aspden, who chaired the February 2020 meeting which approved the payout, did not declare a personal interest relating to a tribunal claim Ms Weastell filed which named him personally as a respondent.
Cllr Douglas said: “It is completely irresponsible of Cllr Widdowson to put out false, speculative and inaccurate information.
“York residents remember how Liberal Democrat councillors paid off a chief officer for their own political convenience, they shouldn’t seek to judge others by their own standards.
“The Labour council administration will always defend local taxpayers’ interests and will comment further when this legal process has concluded.”
