TYDD ST MARY
PARISH COUNCIL
Hedgeview, 231 Broadgate, Sutton St
Edmund, Spalding, Lincs, PE120LT
E mail tyddstmarypc@gmail.com
LETTER
TO THE EDITOR,
TYDD
ST MARY PARISH COUNCIL AND MS KAREN TREACHER
August
18 2023
Sir,
I am writing
to clarify the position of Tydd St Mary Parish Council following its successful
defence of a claim of constructive dismissal brought against it at an
Employment Tribunal by its former clerk, Ms Karen Treacher. All the grounds for
her case were dismissed by the Tribunal, as was a claim for considerable
financial compensation as well as an attempt then to have the case re-considered.
In its judgement, the Tribunal said ‘the claimant
was not close to winning any of her claims.’
Ms Treacher chose
to resign her post with Tydd St Mary Parish Council in September 2020 and in
November of that year elected to take her case to the Employment Tribunal.
As a Parish
Council we pride ourselves on being a fair and considerate employer.
Councillors are unpaid and give their time and efforts generously to fulfil
their obligations as elected members.
The Council
decided to defend all the claims made against it and over the last three years
councillors have had to expend considerable time in dealing with the matter.
So, we were pleased that the Tribunal, in so comprehensively dismissing the
case, effectively found that we had acted correctly throughout a long and stressful
process.
In
subsequent media interviews Ms Treacher has sought to portray herself as the
‘victim’ in the case. However, if she is a ‘victim’ then she is so at her own
hand. It was she who resigned her post
and she, not the Council, who instigated the legal action. She also makes
claims about the actions of the Council in relation to COVID-19 precautions
which are, again, incorrect. In fact, the Council acted appropriately and in
accordance with official guidelines at the time.
She now states
that she faces financial hardship because the Council is seeking to recover
costs it incurred in defending itself against these unfounded claims. However, as
a Council we have a duty to act in the best interests of the community we serve
and, as that includes ensuring that public funds are spent wisely, then we are
right to do so.
This whole
matter has been unfortunate and regrettable but it has
not been of our making. Our focus now is on doing the job my colleagues and I
were elected to do.
Yours
Annette
Magnus
Chair
Tydd St Mary
Parish Council