Legal battle over job reference

Christine Laird worked for Rhondda Cynon Taf prior to Cheltenham

A Welsh council could face a bill of hundreds of thousands of pounds over a job reference for a former employee.

BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme understands Cheltenham Borough Council is suing Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) over a reference it gave to Christine Laird.

She became the managing director at Cheltenham in 2002, but left in 2005 following a dispute.

But RCT says it will vigorously defend any attempt to recover legal costs from it.

Christine Laird's time as MD at Cheltenham council was dominated by court cases, allegations that she was bullied, claims for damages, and an attempt to sue the then council leader, Andrew McKinlay, for harassment.

She also made more than 30 complaints against the council cabinet, none of which were upheld.

If the courts do determine in the favour of Cheltenham then it would be a very bad day for Rhondda Cynon Taf Cllr Pauline Jarman

In June 2004, Miss Laird was suspended on full pay pending an inquiry into alleged misdemeanours. However, by August the next year she lost her job entirely.

Dragon's Eye now understands that Cheltenham is attempting to recoup the costs incurred in its legal battles with the former MD.

Those proceedings are also believed to include applications to recover money from RCT over the job reference it supplied to Cheltenham.

RCT declined to comment on the case, other than to state it would be vigorously defending itself.

'Writ'

However, a former leader of the authority, Plaid Cymru councillor Pauline Jarman, said she believed the RCT officials should be open with elected members about what is happening.

"I've heard a lot of whispering and innuendo that a writ may have been issued but the council has never told me officially," said Mrs Jarman.

"If the courts do determine in the favour of Cheltenham then it would be a very bad day for Rhondda Cynon Taf."

Both Cheltenham council and Miss Laird have declined requests from BBC Wales to comment on the issue.

However it is expected that the case will come before the High Court for a procedural hearing in July.