Harbon set to sue over dismissal
FORMER councillor Wendy Harbon has announced she intends to take Derby City Council to court after a by-election is held to replace her.
Ms Harbon, who moved to Blackpool in April, lost her seat in Darley ward last week after failing to attend any council-related meetings in six months.
A by-election will be held for the position on July 24.
But, in an e-mail to the Evening Telegraph, Ms Harbon broke her silence over the issue and said she did not accept the council's decision to throw her out.
The former councillor said she would sue the authority for wrongful dismissal and “disabled discrimination”.
In December 2006, Ms Harbon was involved in a car accident which she said left her in pain and unable to use her right arm.
She said the authority had failed to make adequate provision to help her work with her disability.
Ms Harbon's e-mail, which has not been changed by the Evening Telegraph, said: “My legal advise is, we cannot get a case to court before this election takes place, over disabled discrimination and wrongfully being sacked, but the case againt the council is clear, they have on many grounds broken the law over disabled discrimination etc.
“Also if or when we win, the council will have to allow me to take up my duties as a councillor, along with pay compensation and major compensation to me and other's who were involved in this election too.”
Derby's Conservative and Labour groups rubbished the former councillor's claims. Derby's Labour group leader, Chris Williamson, said the e-mail was a “rant”.
And Harvey Jennings, deputy leader of Derby's Tories, said Ms Harbon would be “wasting her time” by attempting to sue.
Lucy Care, deputy leader of the ruling Lib Dems, said: “The advice we have had from our officers is that the council's actions are sound.”
Ms Harbon was elected as Lib Dem councillor for Darley in 2006.
She was suspended from the party for allowing her fiance, David Hughes, to use her council e-mail account, but refused to stand down and became an independent.
14 Comments
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by Emily, Derby
Thursday, June 26 2008, 9:18AM
“If shes inacapable of doing the job then she should go - disabled or not. Hiding behind her disability gives a bad name to disabled people who competently get on with their jobs.”
by Nick, Derby
Tuesday, June 24 2008, 10:43AM
“Come on HARBON - you obviously read these comments. Lets see you make a post giving your reposnse to what has been written here. It appears everyone has the same opinion though - what do you think? I suggest you get a grown up to check your spelling though if you do.”
by Chris Wynn, Darley
Tuesday, June 24 2008, 8:57AM
“Ms Harbon's supposed disability is a complete red herring. It does not excuse her failure to represent Darley, her failure to attend any meetings or her move to Blackpool.
There are members of all three parties on the City Council who are actually registered disabled, yet quietly get on with the job of representing their electors.”
by Chris, Derby
Monday, June 23 2008, 9:19PM
“I find this a bit hard to believe!
Ms Harbon was accepted as a candidate, in good faith by the Liberal Democrats, she was elected by the residents of Darley to represent them at the council. Ms Harbon must have been fully aware of what this involved when she was elected, and having gained the trust of Darley's residents and the Liberal Democrats.
I am sure , Ms Harnon, that everyone was sympathetic to the difficulties you experienced since your accident.
Do you not feel any sense of guilt for letting everyone down?
You committed yourself to representing your electorate, and you get paid for that work - you obviously can't carry out your duties from Blackpool, so why don't you act honourably and withdraw from the council without any fuss - I am sure you can do without all the condemnation you will receive from those you betrayed.”
by Frank Harrison, Littleover
Monday, June 23 2008, 7:16PM
“Being disabled myself I feel that she has let down not just those that elected her but the disabled as well. I and others like me would love to have had her chances to help others. Any other disabled person trying to be elected will be looked on as being like her.
Good bye to her and good riddance!”
by Nick, Derby
Monday, June 23 2008, 5:48PM
“Has this woman any idea how pathetic and stupid she is making herself look. Has she really got so little sense of reality that she thinks she can make an argument in court?The rules for councillers are quite simple, she has not abided by them, she has done nothing since becoming a counciller. This has got nothing to do with disabllity, it has everything to do with her incompetence and inept approach to the role she was voted into. Please just accept you were a waste of votes and accept you have been dismissed because you were not doing yourjob, Your attempt to hide behind the veil of disability is a slur and insult to the thousands of working disabled people who get on with their work without moaning about the pain and disability that they have learned to live with. Show some dignity for yourself and just accept you are the founder of your own downfall . The people of Derby and Darley do not need you/ Get a job selling kiss me quick hats - something you mighthave the skills to do.”
by Anita Maidens, Darley Abbey
Monday, June 23 2008, 3:43PM
“If Miss Harbon was supposedly unable to use her right arm, how come we saw her on TV, carrying a huge box , which appeared to be quite heavy too, while emptying her flat following her eviction?”
by Voice of Reason, Derby
Monday, June 23 2008, 3:29PM
“As Ms Harbon has sent an e-mail to the DET, it's is highly likely that she will read the articles concerning her abject failure as a councillor and, therefore, also comments posted by readers. I urge those she represented to use this facility to let her know how let-down those that elected her feel. It's safe to assume that she'll read them!”
by Kalwinder Singh, Littleover, Derby
Monday, June 23 2008, 1:22PM
“If you sue the council you sue the people that you were supposed to be representing. Just leave us be, let it go.”
by Ben, Derby
Monday, June 23 2008, 12:20PM
“I hope that when the by-election comes that people in Darley consider the calibre and experience of the candidates rather than voting on national lines. Ms Harbon won election with the Lib Dems because people wanted to give the national government a kicking, and look what happened. We don't want a repeat incident, so please if you are a voter in Darley take the time to find out about candidates. Don't just instinctively vote against the national governement. This is a local election and everyone in Darley should want the most hard working and experienced candidate to win.”