Town council faces legal action from cancer patient (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Town council faces legal action from cancer patient

12:26pm Friday 12th June 2009

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A TOWN council is facing legal action from a disgruntled employee suffering from cancer – a year after it paid out more than £20,000 to settle a dispute with another worker.

Alfie Stothard has made a complaint against his employer, Richmond Town Council, under the Disability Discrimination Act.

Mr Stothard started work as assistant town hall keeper in 2007.

Last year, the job of town hall keeper became vacant and he applied.

However, the 51-year-old, of Bankhouse, Richmond, was then diagnosed with cancer.

He claims the council failed to make reasonable allowances for his illness when dealing with his application. He has also accused the authority of lacking sympathy for his condition.

Mr Stothard said: “They washed their hands of me as soon as they knew I had cancer.

There’s been no welfare meetings or visits.

“They say they’re a caring employer but they’re not – I had more care and respect when I was working on building sites.”

Mr Stothard said his treatment by the council had caused him stress and depression.

Mr Stothard complained to the council. However, the complaint was rejected.

He has now sought legal advice with a view to taking the council to an employment tribunal.

Geoff Coates, town council clerk, said the matter was with the council’s solicitors and he could not comment further.

Last year, the town council reached an agreement with former deputy clerk Elizabeth Ramage hours before she was due to take the council to an employment tribunal over a bullying allegation.

The council has refused to say how much it paid to Mrs Ramage to settle the matter, saying the figure was subject to a confidentiality agreement.

In a separate matter to his grievance under the Disability Discrimination Act, Mr Stothard also lodged a complaint that town and district councillor, Russell Lord, broke the confidentiality agreement in the Black Lion pub, in Richmond, by revealing Mrs Ramage received about £20,000 plus costs. In fact, sources have revealed she was actually paid £17,500 of taxpayers’ money.

It had already been established the authority spent £5,048 plus VAT on legal fees over the issue.

The complaint against Coun Lord was referred to Richmondshire District Council. A spokesman said the allegation had been referred to the council monitoring officer to ensure that Coun Lord was aware of the requirements of the code of conduct in relation to maintaining confidentiality.

Coun Lord denied that he had revealed the amount paid to Mrs Ramage in a pub.

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