CERTAIN councillors were "gunning" for Pocklington Town Council clerk Martin Layton, an employment tribunal heard.

Paul Miller, acting for Mr Layton, told the tribunal that it had been resolved to seal his fate "one way or the other".

But Colin Bourne, acting for the town council, said the way Mr Layton had behaved in a council meeting, which descended into a row, had made his dismissal inevitable.

Mr Miller said: "It looks like there was factionalism.

"Certain people were gunning for the clerk. His fate was going to be sealed one way or the other."

Mr Layton brought his case to the tribunal after he was sacked by the council for gross misconduct on March 9, 2001. He had been clerk for 15 years and says he was unfairly dismissed.

The council claims Mr Layton was dismissed after he lied to members regarding an item on an agenda to discuss new disciplinary procedures for council employees.

Mr Layton was said to be unhappy with these procedures, which altered his contract.

Earlier, Mr Layton claimed he had suffered health problems because of "harassment and bullying" by councillors and, in particular, the then mayor, Coun Rowan Blake-James.

"I was very concerned about continuing allegations against me.

"I consulted a doctor. I was suffering from psoriasis and insomnia as a result of work-related stress," he said.

"People said there was a conspiracy against me. I didn't have time to take note of it. It is my belief that there was long-standing antipathy from the mayor and her supporters who disliked my voicing criticisms of East Riding of Yorkshire Council."

But Mr Bourne said the council had acted justly when summarily dismissing Mr Layton.

"The way Martin Layton behaved destroyed the trust and confidence between the council and clerk," he said.

"He was 100 per cent responsible for what befell him."

The tribunal decided to reserve judgement until a meeting on April 3 for deliberations. The findings are expected to be announced in mid-April.

Updated: 09:53 Saturday, March 09, 2002