Red Faces in North Ayrshire!!!!
North Ayrshire Council was left with egg all over its face today - as senior council officials were forced to abandon their case on Day 2 of a hearing scheduled for 3 Days.
To add insult to injury, the Employment Tribunal also awarded costs against the council for wasting every one's time - a lesson for employers everywhere!
North Ayrshire had been arguing (ludicrously) that many of our clients claims were time barred - because of changes that had taken place to their jobs in 2005.
But having heard evidence from various quarters - the upshot was that the council simply shot itself in both feet (from close range) - and there was no case to answer.
A great WHOOP went up from the waiting room when our clients heard the news - the council was being forced to abandon a previously unshakeable position - on which senior officials were staking their lives only minutes before.
The same (and very highly paid officials) now need to explain to their political masters - just how they managed to waste vast sums of council tax payers money - in trying to defend the indefensible.
One wag at the hearing suggested that senior council officials are being wooed with a management buy-out from the Keystone Cops - though that has still to be confirmed!
More news to follow soon.
Meantime our grateful thanks to everyone who played a part in giving the council the wake up call it richly deserved - especially all those who turned up in their own time (unlike council officials) to see justice being done!
We will be sharing the good news with senior elected councillors in North Ayrshire - along with local MSPs and MPs - because it is to these local politicians that senior officials are accountable to ultimately.
Bottom line is - some searching questions need to be asked - in high places - about the performance and behaviour of said senior council officials!
To add insult to injury, the Employment Tribunal also awarded costs against the council for wasting every one's time - a lesson for employers everywhere!
North Ayrshire had been arguing (ludicrously) that many of our clients claims were time barred - because of changes that had taken place to their jobs in 2005.
But having heard evidence from various quarters - the upshot was that the council simply shot itself in both feet (from close range) - and there was no case to answer.
A great WHOOP went up from the waiting room when our clients heard the news - the council was being forced to abandon a previously unshakeable position - on which senior officials were staking their lives only minutes before.
The same (and very highly paid officials) now need to explain to their political masters - just how they managed to waste vast sums of council tax payers money - in trying to defend the indefensible.
One wag at the hearing suggested that senior council officials are being wooed with a management buy-out from the Keystone Cops - though that has still to be confirmed!
More news to follow soon.
Meantime our grateful thanks to everyone who played a part in giving the council the wake up call it richly deserved - especially all those who turned up in their own time (unlike council officials) to see justice being done!
We will be sharing the good news with senior elected councillors in North Ayrshire - along with local MSPs and MPs - because it is to these local politicians that senior officials are accountable to ultimately.
Bottom line is - some searching questions need to be asked - in high places - about the performance and behaviour of said senior council officials!
