'I loved my job and I was doing a good job', sacked South Ribble Council chief tells tribunal

By Paul Faulkner
Published 14th Oct 2021, 08:26 BST
Updated 15th Oct 2021, 18:42 BST
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The former chief executive of South Ribble Borough Council, who was sacked from her job last year, has told an employment tribunal that she was the victim of “a vendetta” by the leader of the authority.

Heather McManus was suspended in May 2019, just weeks after Labour group leader Paul Foster took control of the council following local elections.

She resigned from her post 12 months later, but was dismissed by the council shortly afterwards in July 2020 for “serious misconduct” - at which point she was serving her notice period while still on what was described at the time as "special leave".

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'No witch-hunt' over sacking of South Ribble Council chief, tribunal told
Heather McManus arrived at South Ribble Borough Council in the summer of 2017Heather McManus arrived at South Ribble Borough Council in the summer of 2017
Heather McManus arrived at South Ribble Borough Council in the summer of 2017

That followed a behind-closed-doors vote of the full council which endorsed a recommendation by the authority’s investigations and disciplinary committee (IDC) that Mrs. McManus should be sacked with immediate effect.

She has brought a complaint of unfair dismissal against the council itself, as well as Cllr Foster and his deputy Mick Titherington - treatment which she claims was fuelled by her actions as a whistleblower over concerns she expressed that the authority was at risk of being seen to be willing to breach its legal duties regarding proposals to build over 1,000 homes in Penwortham.