Council 'damaged' by unfair dismissal

Councillors were told the case should not have gone to court

A west Wales council has been criticised for the way it treated a top executive who was unfairly dismissed from his post.

Keith Davies - who had been Director of Education with Carmarthenshire County Council - was awarded £55,000 by an employment tribunal after taking action against his former bosses.

Mr Davies complained when he was not shortlisted

On Thursday, an independent report presented to councillors said the authority should have made an out of court settlement - which would have avoided costs of more than £60,000.

The independent report also found the case had damaged the council's reputation, and that redundancy practices were not properly applied.

The case arose after Mr Davies disputed a decision by the local authority to amalgamate his education director's post with community development.

He complained when his name was not put on a shortlist for the new position.

Allegations dismissed

Mr Davies was later one of six applicants for the newly-created post of education and community services director, but councillors decided not to consider him.

They said they felt he did not have the necessary skills for the job and they chose a non-Welsh speaking candidate instead.

Last year a tribunal found Mr Davies had been unfairly dismissed and, in February, the council was ordered to pay him compensation.

An inquiry was launched into the case after complaints were made by Labour members of the council.

The report - prepared by barrister Elizabeth Appleby and human resources specialist Maurice Smart - dismissed an allegation that leading members of the council had conspired with the previous chief executive Brad Roynon to get rid of Mr Davies.