Union and council in bitter row over threat of legal action on statutory duties

Trade union Unite has instructed its lawyers to investigate the possibility of legal action against both the London Borough of Bromley and individual councillors there over alleged failures to comply with statutory duties.

Unite said it had found evidence via a confidential hotline set up for residents of “some shocking examples of mistreatment”.

The union said it would take a number of cases in the names of specific Bromley residents over a wide range of complaints including alleged failures concerning children and young people, old and vulnerable people, housing and “other local failures impacting services for Bromley residents”.

Acting general secretary Gail Cartmail said: “Bromley residents and Unite have compiled a shocking dossier which exposes mistreatment and failures by Bromley Council.

“There is potential evidence that individual councillors and the council collectively have been failing in their public duties to protect the people of Bromley. Unite is making its considerable resources available to the people of Bromley.”

Cllr Stephen Carr, Leader of Bromley, said: “This is the same dossier that the Unite-inspired Backing Bromley stunt promised to deliver to the council in the autumn. We’re now in the spring and have still not received it. If there is any substance in these publicity hungry allegations, the shock is that the council have not been contacted.

“It has been said that we do not have a whistle-blowing policy but of course, the reverse is true. We’re investing in services for the most vulnerable and in common with many other local authorities, we have raised council tax, including the Government’s adult social care precept so that we can continue to look after the elderly and young people and deal with other national problems on a local level, such as those who are homeless.”

He added: “No one looks at legal action unless it is for a cheap headline, without actually contacting the organisation concerned, especially if they are truly concerned for the vulnerable.”

Cllr Carr said that “when or if contacted formally”, the council would respond as appropriate.

Mark Smulian