Call for Bridgnorth town councillors to foot bills for tribunals

Three members of Bridgnorth Town Council should be forced to pay the £118,000 it cost to represent them in a sexual discrimination case, it has been claimed.

The call was made after last night's council meeting at which the full extent of the cost of fighting two employment tribunals came under the spotlight.

Locum town clerk Mrs Anne Wilson said the costs incurred in fighting the cases brought by ex-clerk Rachel Humphries and her personal assistant Mary Merrifield against the authority were currently running at £337,480.

Mrs Humphries' case alleging sexual discrimination, which has been adjourned until June, is being brought against both the council and four councillors – Adrian Tacchi, Jennifer Durham, Ed Shirley and Norman Cottrell.

Councillor Cottrell is paying his own legal fees but the town council is footing the bill for the other three.

Mrs Wilson told last night's meeting the costs of representing the other three councillors was £118,000.

Mrs Merrifield lost her case of unfair dismissal last December and was ordered to pay at least £10,000 costs.

David Seipel had tabled questions to the council which prompted the release of the figures. Mr Seipel, from Oldbury Wells, Bridgnorth, said: "I don't see why council taxpayers should foot the bill."

Mrs Wilson said: "The town council passed a resolution to pay the legal fees of all the councillors in September 2010."