RBH Disciplinary Panel hearing flawed?

Date published: 15/02/2008

Rochdale Online reported on 8 February that a Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) Disciplinary Panel had cleared Chairwoman Gill Walch of allegations of misconduct relating to the second failed attempt at recruiting a new Chief Executive.

At the disciplinary hearing Gill Walch was represented by David Bartlett of RoFTRA and, in somewhat unusual circumstances, RBH Acting Managing Director Gareth Swarbrick acted as 'prosecutor' presenting the evidence against Ms Walch to the disciplinary panel!

Though no 'official' explanation has been forthcoming from RBH, a source close to RBH said the unusual circumstances were forced on the disciplinary panel as both Margaret Carney, Executive Director, Rochdale Council, who decided the original allegations were serious enough to warrant the recruitment process being cancelled, and Councillor Brian Davies, who made the original allegations, had declined an invitation to attend and give evidence to the panel.

Rochdale Online asked RBH to confirm that Ms Carney and Councillor Davies had been invited to attend and give evidence; RBH Communications Manager Jane Howard said: "I have been instructed that RBH will not be responding to questions from Rochdale Online", forcing Rochdale Online to use Freedom of Information legislation to try and persuade RBH to be open and transparent - we still await a decision on the FOI request. 

However, having asked Ms Carney and Councillor Davies we can now reveal that neither was invited to attend the disciplinary hearing.

Margaret Carney said: "I can confirm that I was not invited to attend any disciplinary hearing.  I did not know such a hearing had taken place until last week and as yet I have still not been informed officially that the hearing did take place. I have not been notified of the outcome of any such hearing."

Councillor Davis said: "I was not invited and did not attend."