The Council “neither confirms nor Denies” the Allegations of sexual harassment/misconduct leading to Settlement Agreements.

Back in Sept 2017 we brought you the post about Jeremy Chambers (pictured) being dismissed for Gross Misconduct. The allegations were that Jeremy was placed on gardening leave recently, due to sexual harassment allegations made against him by a female members of staff. It is understood that there was more than one allegation over a period of three years.

It is known that senior corporate directors were aware of these allegations made during that three year window, but on each occasion Jeremy was given the benefit of there doubt. And as such his exhibitionism was allowed to continue unchallenged. 

Jeremy received a £43,000 pay off at the end of Sept 2017, and a settlement agreement which included a gagging order, before leaving for Enfield Council. How can it be that women who raised the issues of being “flashed” by Chambers leave the building with nothing, and Chambers leaves with £43,000? Why did the Council including senior officers such as Dr Susan Priest (pictured left), Alistair Stewart, Amandeep Khroud and others, cover up or downplay his serious indecent sexual acts against women?

Anyway our public face put in an FoI to Folkestone & Hythe District Council. It asked:

• How many allegations of sexual harassment/misconduct – which led to “settlement agreements” were made against the former Corporate Director of Strategic Operations, between 1 Jan 2013 – to present. Please could you set out the number of allegations per year and the amount for any settlement agreement”  paid for each year.

The Council have now responded using section 17(4) of the FoIA 2000,

• “the council neither confirms nor denies whether it holds the information you have requested.“

So we are no closer to knowing officially if Mr Chambers did or did not commit indecent acts against female members of staff. However, we do know he left the building with £43,000.

It is not right that the Council should be allowed to hide behind s17(4) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 when Jeremy has committed indecent acts against women. It’s not quite been a year since we wrote about his dismissal, but we don’t believe Mr Chambers will be taking legal action, as we have spoken to the women Chambers committed these indecent acts against.

Such a response by the Council is breathtaking. Allowing Chamber to flash his penis at women and rewarding him with £43,000 is beyond disgusting. It’s clear the Chief Executive Alistair Stewart and his senior management rather than confront Chambers, and report him to the Police, preferred to pay him off for his gross indecent behavior against women. This betrayal of trust the corrosive effects that senior management actions have on trust, confidence does not bode well for women inside Folkestone & Hythe District Council.

The Shepwayvox Team

Dissent is NOT a Crime