An East Kilbride election candidate has claimed that South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture are "trying to dodge" answering questions over damming findings from an employment tribunal.
It comes after a tribunal ruled in favour of ousted SLLC general manager, Gerry Campbell, who was sacked in 2019 amid a legal row over a grievance by a leisure trust employee.
This then led to Independent EK West candidate, David Watson, being removed as chair of SLLC and him deciding to quit the SNP.
Mr Campbell was sacked for alleged gross misconduct, but judges at a tribunal ruled in favour of his claim of unfair dismissal and breach of contract, also holding up claims under the Equality Act.
Compensation is yet to be decided but candidate, Mr Watson, says it is "is likely to cost South Lanarkshire Council tax payers substantial sums of money".
He told Lanarkshire Live : "Both the council and SLLC are trying to dodge answering questions that would help identify the individuals responsible for the fiasco.
"I am led to believe that no appeal has been made against the decision regarding the employment tribunal’s damming findings regarding the actions of the council and SLLC.
"We are in the position now of waiting on the remedy hearing where SLLC will find out how much they need to pay out.
"I have experienced delays in getting information from SLLC, who continue treating enquiries as Freedom of Information Requests to delay responding.
"This is the first time in all my years that enquiries to SLLC have been treated this way."
A SLLC spokesman said an independent review of the matter was "currently being commissioned" following instruction by the SLLC Board.
He added: “SLLC takes all requests for information seriously and deals with them in accordance with the relevant legislation.
“As there are ongoing legal proceedings it would not be appropriate to comment any further at this stage."
Other candidates standing in the East Kilbride West ward alongside Independent Mr Watson are: Ian Harrow (Conservative and Unionist), Denise Hay (Scottish Family Party), Yvonne Mackay (UKIP), Monique McAdams (Labour and Cooperative Party), Ali Salamati (Scottish National Party), Craig Sloan (Scottish National Party) and Huaiquan Zhang (Scottish Liberal Democrats).
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