Sacked social care boss accused Walsall Council chief executive of corruption at tribunal

Paul Davies was sacked following allegations of misconduct in March this year, after being suspended for 15 months.

He has launched a claim for unfair dismissal against the council.

Representing himself Mr Davies told the hearing that Walsall Council's chief executive Paul Sheehan had hinted to councillors sitting on a disciplinary panel that something had happened in Oldham when he was previously a director there.

He told the Birmingham tribunal that the information would have been the last thing the panel would have heard before deciding to dismiss him.

However the local authority has disputed the claim.

Representing the council Mr Tim Kerr QC said: "It is a strong thing to suggest corrupt behaviour by the chief executive of a council accusing them of trying to knobble a disciplinary panel.

"That is the straw that Mr Davies clutches by making theses very serious allegations about Mr Sheehan. It is simply staggering that he is suggesting this."

Mr Davies told the hearing: "Why did he make that bombshell comment in the hearing of the elected members?"

Mr Davies, aged 51, joined the council in spring 2010 after moving from Oldham Council, where he had been assistant executive director for adult social care since 2004.

The tribunal has also heard claims that he authorised a £3.5 million payment to a credit union Walsave even though there were concerns at the time about the procurement process.

In his closing speech Mr Davies denied that none of the conditions for paying the money to Walsave were met.

"Let it not be forgotten that no money was transferred for half a year. In that time discussions were taking place. Cabinet decisions should have been sought and indeed it was," he told the hearing.

It was also claimed that he awarded work worth more than £480,000 to an organisation of which he is a trustee.

It was alleged Mr Davies had been told to stop using In Control, which provides specialises in providing social care programmes to councils, after a solicitor raised concerns about the competition process in summer 2012.

It was said the council had not been involved with In Control since 2009, but this was reinstated after the arrival of Mr Davies.

He was advised to terminate the contract, but didn't, signing off payments in September and October. Mr Davies denied any wrongdoing and told the tribunal that he had declared his involvement with In Control and had followed procurement advice.

The tribunal judge's decision is due next month.