Former clerk loses legal bid

An employment tribunal has found in favour of Tydd St Mary Parish Council after legal action from its former parish clerk.

Karen Treacher, who is clerk at Long Sutton Parish Council, had taken legal action against the authority after resigning from her role in 2020.
She told The Voice she resigned over concerns regarding some of Tydd St Mary Parish Council’s actions with regards to COVID-19 protocols.
The authority denies any wrong-doing.
Ms Treacher represented herself in a five-day hearing starting June 26 which ruled against her.
She appealed for it to be reconsidered, but that too was thrown out by the panel.
Ms Treacher said she was “obviously very disappointed“ and was worried “the parish council would seek costs against me simply for my putting the parishioners I worked on behalf of above the personal priorities of some members of the council.
“I have always done so with the best of intentions and on behalf of the communities I have worked hard for and at great personal cost.
“At times the abuse I have received has been relentless.
“It is a disappointing and distressing end for me after working on behalf of the residents of the Tydd St Mary parish for over 25 happy years until a change in the council members meant a change in priorities which in my opinion were not for the benefit of the parish as a whole but for the personal benefit of a few.
“I resigned and took a stand because my conscience would not allow me to assist with the actions and decisions of the council which I felt were detrimental to the health of the residents.
“It has cost me dearly in respect of my health over the past three years and it may also now cost me my home and livelihood.
“I failed to meet the employment law criteria to win the case and I have to live with the ramifications of the decision but I can do so holding my head high and with a clear conscience.”
Tydd St Mary Parish Council chairman Annette Magnus said: “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.
“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.
“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.”