West Dunbartonshire Council chief loses unfair dismissal claim

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A West Dunbartonshire Council chief who claimed she should have been made redundant - earning a payout of £500,000 - lost her case at a tribunal.Angela Wilson claimed a restructure should have resulted in her being given a package.She didn’t agree to the changes and as a result was dismissed from her job as strategic director of transformation and public sector reform in December 2020.But she went on to accept a new post at the council as chief officer of supply, distribution and property, retaining her salary at the time of £95,872.Ms Wilson, who joined the council in 2012, took her employer to a tribunal claiming she had been unfairly dismissed but employment judge Lucy Wiseman ruled it had been fair.The Lennox Herald understands Ms Wilson is now appealing the decision.The tribunal heard evidence from Chief Executive Joyce White, Victoria Rogers, chief officer (people and technology), and from Ms Wilson on three dates in August and September last year.The details are explained in a judgement, which states Ms Wilson was “clearly upset” by what had happened as she saw herself as Ms White’s “number two” and “had Ms White’s back”.It explains that her “unhappiness” at the changes began in 2019 when she was asked to take on procurement.Then, in 2020 she believed her strategic lead role was made redundant following a restructuring in which she was offered the chief officer role.The statement says she did not consider it to be suitable alternative employment but ultimately accepted it.The reorganisation saw the axing of strategic director and lead posts, and creation of eight chief officer roles.Explaining the changes, the judgement states Ms White explained they were necessary because the council was facing significant