Title

LEGAL

EXCLUSIVE: Council holds back chunk of tribunal payment

More than a third of £4.6m damages ordered by an employment tribunal has not been paid by a council almost two years after the judgement, The MJ understands.

© froampsbeg/Shutterstock

© froampsbeg/Shutterstock

More than a third of £4.6m damages ordered by an employment tribunal has not been paid by a council almost two years after the judgement, The MJ understands.

Hammersmith and Fulham LBC was judged to have harassed and discriminated against its sacked director of public service reform, Rachael Wright-Turner in March 2024.

But the council is partially withholding payment related to several aspects of the award, part of which it is appealing.

The refusal to pay means the council is racking up interest at a rate of £639 per day, which is expected to total more than £590,000 by the time of the appeal next year.

On top of that, a hearing last month heard an application for legal costs of more than £540,000.

Wright-Turner, who is believed to be considering enforcement proceedings against the council, is understood to have demanded the authority pays her what she is owed, including all accrued interest and her legal fees in full, as well as withdraw its outstanding appeal.

She is not expected to be well enough to return to any form of work before March.

The council did not respond to a request for comment.

LEGAL

BCP asks Government to raise tax referendum cap

By Martin Ford | 05 January 2026

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has approached the Government over increasing its council tax by more than 4.99% without a referendum.

LEGAL

Spinning a golden SEND thread

By Ann McGauran | 18 December 2025

ADCS president Rachael Wardell talks to Ann McGauran about the need for government to listen to the perspectives of England’s children’s services directors ...

LEGAL

A year to remember...

By Martin Ford | 17 December 2025

A devolution priority programme combined with a wider council reorganisation that could be seen from space; Reform UK limbering up to terrify a Labour Govern...

LEGAL

Councils are included in the class action against the Motorola-owned Airwave Network

By Clare Spottiswoode CBE | 15 December 2025

Local authorities are in line to receive a portion of any damages awarded for alleged unfair pricing against the emergency communications Airwave Network - ...

Dan Peters

Popular articles by Dan Peters