The city’s longest-serving councillor has demanded a full investigation into Dundee City Council’s treatment of former deputy head teacher Linda Ross.
Ian Borthwick, who has served the city as an elected member for 50 years, says he found the employment tribunal report which upheld the former deputy head teacher’s claim for unfair dismissal “quite shocking”.
The damning contents of the report were exclusively revealed in Saturday’s Courier.
Mr Borthwick, who was part of a three-man inquiry team investigating allegations made by Mrs Ross of problems with discipline and security at Sidlaw View Primary School in 2007, said the council had fallen “far short” of the standards expected of it.
He added he found it “unacceptable” the authority’s HR manager ignored advice from the council’s own legal department and said the behaviour of certain individuals had “cast a bad reflection on the city”.
He also demanded that employees should be confident the “utmost fairness” would be shown to them during any disciplinary matters.
The tribunal judgment seen by The Courier on Friday ahead of it being made available to the public on Monday severely criticises the city council, former education director Anne Wilson, HR manager Janet Robertson and primary education manager Ian Rae.
Lord Provost John Letford is also highlighted by the three-man tribunal panel as having been accused by Mrs Ross of behaving as if he was “on a jolly” while chairing her appeal hearing.
The tribunal rules the council failed to comply with its own procedures and “failed to comply with the basic requirements of natural justice” in its treatment of Mrs Ross, who was suspended from her position as deputy head teacher at Longhaugh Primary School following allegations she assaulted a pupil.
The judgment also describes Anne Wilson as not a “reliable witness” and states the HR department had ignored “correct legal advice”.
The tribunal ruled Mrs Ross had been unfairly dismissed by the city council and raised any compensatory award to her by 25% to reflect the council’s failure to comply with its own procedures.
Mr Borthwick says there needs to be a full investigation.
He said: “I think the report and its conclusions are quite shocking and there should be a full inquiry. We as a council were weighed in the balance and found to be wanting.
“According to the report we fell far short of the standards that should be expected. We are entitled to a full explanation of how this situation arose and what steps are being taken to make sure it won’t happen again.
“There are well established procedures and these must be adhered to in the future. At all times absolute fairness must be applied in any future proceedings and disciplinary matters involving staff.”