Confidential details 'disclosed' by Walsall Council boss

Paul Davies was said to have sent emails including an agenda and forwarding dialogue between himself and senior councillors to an NHS worker who lives outside the region.

But he insisted she was a mentor, of which he was encouraged to have after going on a training course at the request of the council.

He added that despite the agenda being in 'draft form,' it had been before the cabinet months beforehand and had not changed.

Mr Davies was sacked following allegations of misconduct in March this year, after being placed on suspension for 15 months.

He has launched a claim for unfair dismissal at an employment tribunal which is expected to last three weeks in Birmingham.

When asked about the allegation of releasing confidential information he insisted everything would have been available to the public under a Freedom of Information Act.

Mr Davies, who was executive director for social care and inclusion at the local authority, said: "It could have been sourced by members of the public.

"I didn't send it to the public, I sent it to my mentor."

He was found to be in misconduct by a council panel for disclosure of confidential documents and failing to produce a mentor agreement.

Issues were also raised over what was said to be his lack of consultation or going through the necessary competition process to find a specialist to take over appointeeships which involves running a person's finances because they are unable to.

Mr Davies claims only one organisation had the right accreditation to take on the service, although it was claimed he knew people who were part of the firm.

Other evidence put to the tribunal has also heard claims that he authorised a £3.5 million payment to a credit union even though there were concerns at the time about the procurement process, and head of finance only found out from a whistle blower.

It was claimed that he awarded work worth more than £480,000 to an organisation of which he is a trustee. It was alleged Mr Davies had been told to stop using In Control, which specialises in providing social care programmes to councils, after a solicitor raised concerns about the competition process in summer 2012.

It was said he council had not been involved with In Control since 2009, but this was reinstated after the arrival of Mr Davies. He was advised to terminate the contract, but didn't, signing off payments in September and October. But he told the tribunal that he had declared his involvement with In Control and had followed procurement advice.

Mr Davies is also alleged to to have committed misconduct over procuring work at the council but has denied any wrong-doing and the tribunal is expected to last three weeks.

An independent investigation was conducted by law firm Bevan Brittan.

The findings were presented to a board of elected members who found enough evidence to dismiss Mr Davies.

Mr Davies joined the council in spring 2010 after moving from Oldham Council, where he had been assistant executive director for adult social care since 2004.

The tribunal has been adjourned until Monday.