BOURNEMOUTH council is considering a bid to recover the £250,000 costs it incurred fighting a constructive dismissal claim from a "threatening and abusive" ex-employee.
The borough’s former £103,850 per year finance director, Liz Wilkinson, took the authority to an employment tribunal after alleging she had been forced to resign for acting as a "whistleblower".
But in December the judgement went against Mrs Wilkinson, who had claimed she was subject to detriment for having made protected disclosures about the council's outsourcing contract with Mouchel.
"Our findings satisfy us that on a number of occasions the claimant’s management approach and behaviour went beyond the bounds of acceptable behaviour and was at times threatening and abusive," the ruling said.
"We have come to the clearest conclusion that the raising of these alleged disclosures was done as a counterblast to the allegations of bullying and unacceptable behaviour, which she knew she would have to face."
In a document written for the council’s Audit and Governance Committee, chief executive Tony Williams said the expense of defending the case will have to be met by "unearmarked reserves".
"The council is exploring the issue of legal costs against Mrs Wilkinson," he said.
"A verbal update will be given to the committee in respect of the council’s application to recover costs and in circumstances where Mrs Wilkinson decides to appeal."
He cited the process’s complexity and duration as well as "the need for an external independent investigation" into bullying complaints against Mrs Wilkinson for the high costs.
This independent investigation was carried out by solicitor David Major.
"It was stated that staff had reported Mrs Wilkinson’s behaviour 'to be unprofessional, intimidating, demeaning, humiliating or otherwise inappropriate,'" said Mr Williams, referring to Mr Major’s findings.
"The report also stated: 'The accounts of Liz Wilkinson’s behaviour that were provided to me by some of the individuals that I interviewed in the course of my investigation rank as some of the most extreme examples of inappropriate behaviour from an executive officer that I have come across.'"
Mr Williams said that despite the claims against the authority being dismissed, “the council needs to provide reassurance to the public that it has learned lessons from this process and recognises that it needs to review its anti-bullying approach".
The Daily Echo contacted Mrs Wilkinson's representatives, but no comment had been received at the time of going to press.
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