Tarleton Parish Council clerk: ‘I was forced out for being too old’

Jan 14 2010 by Michael Byrne, Ormskirk Advertiser

FORMER Tarleton Parish Council clerk Rod Sears claims he was forced out of his post for political reasons.

Mr Sears won £2,106 in compensation after his successful claim for wrongful dismissal.

Mr Sears, who is still clerk for North Meols Parish Council, had his employment at Tarleton terminated on April 30.

The tribunal found the claim for unfair dismissal was well founded in light of the council’s failure to allow him to attend the meeting convened to discuss his request to continue working after he was 65, which rendered his dismissal automatically unfair.

However, the employment tribunal rejected his claim of age discrimination, finding ‘he was dismissed by reason of retirement, and given that his dismissal occurred above the age of 65. Such treatment cannot amount to age discrimination due to the default retirement age exception.’

Mr Sears said: “I was definitely forced out of Tarleton Parish Council. They just played the age card. I don’t know why they wanted to get me out.

“I asked them if there was anything wrong with my work and they said no.”

Mr Sears said he believed the move to get rid of him was political. He said he doesn’t have political views, but an administration was in control of the council who didn’t want anyone who was not on their side.