A FORMER town council clerk who collected an MBE earlier this year “ruled the council with an iron fist”, an employment tribunal has heard.

Robert Robinson, who stepped down as clerk at Welshpool Town Council in October 2019, gave evidence as the tribunal into the dismissal of his one-time deputy Martin Bond continued on Thursday (December 9).

He was cross-examined by Mr Bond, who accused him of ruling the council with an iron fist and said he had “deliberately hid facts”. But Mr Robinson – awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s honours for his public service and volunteer work – hit back, saying that on one occasion Mr Bond’s behaviour was “so aggressive” during a confrontation between the pair that he thought was going to be punched.

Mr Robinson also stated that Mr Bond’s attitude and relationships with other members of the council had deteriorated so much that he was approached by then mayor Steve Kaye and told Mr Bond has “got to go”.

Mr Bond started working as the deputy clerk in February 2019 but was dismissed within his six-month probation period because of reportedly poor relationships with staff members.

Mr Bond claims he was wrongfully dismissed for whistleblowing about a faulty fire alarm system at Welshpool Town Hall and took his case against the town council and Mr Robinson to a tribunal.

On Thursday, Mr Robinson told Mr Bond: “When you were hired I thought you were the right man for the job.”

He said that he told Mr Bond on one occasion in his car that it was “inevitable” there would be run-ins between the duo because they were both strong characters.

Mr Robinson said: “The unrest came via the staff. I was prepared to take whatever came my way, apart from that one occasion where you came into the office and I thought you were going to hit me, you were so aggressive.

“We shook hands, you apologised, and we moved on. You were not dismissed because of anything I had against you.”

After an initial period in which Mr Bond was said to have settled in well, things quickly deteriorated within two weeks, the tribunal heard.

Mr Bond said there was an altercation with a trader at Welshpool’s indoor market, which led to the clerk and deputy clerk locking horns, while Mr Bond accused Mr Robinson of “deliberately hiding facts” over faulty fire alarms, which he denied. Mr Robinson, however, said he took his share of the blame over the fire alarms issue – the tribunal heard earlier this week that the town centre building, which includes the market hall, did not have working fire alarms for two-and-a-half years.

At one point during questioning, Mr Robinson asked Mr Bond: “Is there a question or is this a recital?”. Mr Bond was asked by the tribunal chair and panel to stick to asking questions of Mr Robinson.

Despite a positive start to life in the role, by mid-March it was apparent some people were unhappy with Mr Bond, with Alison Davies – now the mayor – having a discussion with Mr Robinson about “getting rid” of Mr Bond.

Mr Robinson said: “Steve Kaye called me regarding a weekly update and asked whether there had been an improvement in staff relationships. I said I didn’t think there had and he said ‘he’s got to go’. His words, not mine. It was the mayor’s instructions to carry that out.”

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In response, Mr Bond said: “I need to stick to the facts because you seem to be able to say whatever you want.”

Mr Bond also questioned why there had been no documented evidence of complaints against him for alleged aggressive behaviour and reducing some staff to tears.

Mr Robinson, who had announced his intention to resign in 2019, said that on one occasion he did find his assistant Lizzie Moore in tears, while complaints about Mr Bond were made by Dean Fairchild, Paul McGrath and Phil Rollinson.

“I wanted to move on and wanted you to succeed, I was actually trying to help you,” Mr Robinson told Mr Bond.

“I couldn’t stand the strain of the atmosphere between you and team. As I was about to retire. I’d rather just go, I didn’t want to put up with the stress. You could cut the air with a knife when you came in the office that day, you were very aggressive.

“I wanted to make it work and wanted to settle things down. I did what I did at the time with what I thought was right.”

The employment tribunal is expected to hear from Mr Bond on Friday, December 10, when it is also scheduled to conclude.