POCKLINGTON Town Council forked out £9,436 in legal costs to make representations at an employment tribunal brought by its former clerk.

The town's mayor, Coun Alec Petrie, revealed the expenses at the council's annual town meeting last night, which was attended by nearly 80 people.

Martin Layton, who was the town's clerk for 15 years, brought the tribunal - which was heard last month - against the council after he was dismissed for gross misconduct following a meeting of its disciplinary panel last year.

Former mayor Coun Rowan Blake-James told the panel she was "afraid" of Mr Layton, that he was aggressive towards her, and that he called the council "pathetic and stupid".

But Mr Layton claimed certain councillors were "gunning" for him and resolved to seal his fate "one way or the other".

The tribunal, which reserved judgement until a further meeting, is expected to release its findings later this month.

Coun Petrie said the costs the town council incurred included payment to the Local Government Board for legal advice, and fees paid to a firm to sort out the paperwork.

Last month's tribunal on its own cost £4,737.

But Coun Petrie said because no clerk's wages were paid out during the time it had not employed one, there was no need to "dig into our coffers to meet the costs" of the tribunal.

He told the Evening Press: "Whatever the tribunal decides I feel it's right what we did - we were left with no choice."

An agenda item relating to the clerk's dismissal tabled by a member of the public was to have been discussed, but it was withdrawn during the meeting.

A minute's silence was held at the start of the meeting as a tribute to the Queen Mother.

Updated: 10:51 Tuesday, April 09, 2002