Councillor criticised for decision over tribunal

A LIBERAL Democrat councillor's intention to act as a witness for a former city council employee taking the authority to a tribunal has been criticised by Labour opponents.

Councillor Ruth Skelton was due to be a witness for Shaun Osborn, a former head of public buildings and housing, who was taking the council to tribunal for unfair dismissal.

Mr Osborn had been dismissed from the authority but was then reinstated by an appeals panel which included Ms Skelton.

However, he was re-suspended before he came back to work and later resigned from the authority.

Ms Skelton was never called to give evidence in his case as it was abandoned after the council agreed to pay out an undisclosed sum.

At a meeting of the full council, Labour councillor Dave Roberts questioned authority leader Hilary Jones about whether it was appropriate for Ms Skelton to be a witness.

"Do you agree that whilst it is acceptable for the chair or representative of an appeals committee to give factual evidence as required to at a tribunal, it is wholly unacceptable for them to agree to appear as a witness against the council?" he asked.

"What action do you intend to take as the councillor has undermined the integrity of the appeals process by sitting on a panel when she had views that would undermine it?"

Mrs Jones said: "Councillor Skelton was a member of an appeals panel which decided not to uphold a decision to dismiss and employee. But instead of being reinstated he was immediately suspended again.

"She considered she was duty-bound to give that factual evidence at the tribunal and there is nothing to suggest she was anything other than impartial when she took part in the appeals panel."