Sandwell Council: James Morris MP calls for answers over staff 'pay-offs'
James Morris has accused Sandwell Council of spending an 'eye-watering' amount of money on silencing former staff through confidentiality agreements.
The Halesowen & Rowley Regis MP has written to the crisis-laden authority demanding details on its use of non-disclosure agreements, which he suggested were being used 'to keep people quiet'.
He said he had been told that Sandwell Council was using 'a high number of confidentiality agreements and the use of 'pay-offs' in order to terminate staff contracts'.
In a letter to chief executive Jan Britton and and council leader Steve Eling, he wrote: "I am sure you would agree with me that, although these arrangements have their place, this must be done in very rare circumstances and be a last resort.
"This does not seem to be the case in Sandwell, and I believe that an eye-watering figure would have been spent on these arrangements."
The Tory MP has posed a series of questions on the Labour-led authority's use of confidentiality agreements over the last five years and the associated costs.
He said today: "Unfortunately, like with most things about Sandwell Council, there are a number of rumours about the usage, cost and motive of confidentiality agreements.
"This does nothing for the reputation of the authority, and it is important for the council to answer these serious questions in order to bring an end to the continued speculation.
"The use of these agreements is not cheap, quite often the sums of money involved would take years for the average person to earn.
"People want to know that their money is being spent properly, and not being used to keep people quiet."
Confidentiality agreements are usually thrashed out with departing senior staff, who receive a pay off providing they agree not to speak in public about their employment.
Mr Morris became embroiled in a war of words with Councillor Eling following a House of Commons address last month.
In it he called for the council leader to resign over allegations of abuse of power, fraud and corruption at the authority, and urged the Government to send in commissioners.
He also hit out at the authority after Ofsted revealed children's services in Sandwell were still 'inadequate' some three years after inspectors ordered improvements.
Mr Eling branded his remarks 'disgraceful' and called Mr Morris a 'coward', insisting he had no intention of quitting his role.
