Ms Kirsty Anderson v East Dunbartonshire Council — 2026

The tribunal found that the claimant made two qualifying protected disclosures: at a one-to-one meeting on 15 September 2022, when she said the community asset transfer was unlawful because it did not meet the Council's policy conditions, and in a grievance sent on 5 November 2022. It accepted that the claimant reasonably believed the disclosures tended to show breach of a legal obligation and were made in the public interest.

The tribunal found that some alleged detriments occurred, including removal from a team meeting, a fact-finding investigation, instructions about the Grants Advisory Committee report and meeting, suspension, disciplinary proceedings and dismissal. It found, however, that those actions were not materially influenced by the protected disclosures. The tribunal accepted the respondent's evidence that the actions were taken because of concerns about the claimant's behaviour, refusal to follow management instructions and issues arising from the community grant and warm spaces grant schemes.

On automatic unfair dismissal, the tribunal found that the dismissing officer knew only of the September 2022 disclosure and was not motivated by it. On ordinary unfair dismissal, it found the reason for dismissal was conduct, that the respondent had reasonable grounds for its belief following a reasonable investigation, that a fair procedure was followed, and that summary dismissal fell within the band of reasonable responses.