Days before Lynda Vernam was due to take the council to an employment tribunal to answer charges of unfair dismissal and another grievance brought under the Disability Discrimination Act, the parties agreed on an out-of-hearing settlement.


This saved the potential embarrassment of claim and counter claim being aired in public and may have saved the council a fortune in extra costs.


The scale of liabilities falling to council tax payers is unclear but the Rasen Mail believes that it could be between £10,000 and £20,000.


Market Rasen householders are already paying the highest council tax within the district because of the scale of the town council element, which has been increased by a collective 70 per cent over the last two years, in part to finance extended salary paid to Mrs Vernam for up to a year before her employment was terminated last year.


A tribunal hearing was scheduled for early April and it has taken since then for the council to respond to the Rasen Mail's request for information. Even still it has failed to answer any of the Freedom of Information requests made and instead released a statement which fails to tell ratepayers how they will be affected, if at all.


The Rasen Mail will continue to press for transparency.


Mrs Vernam was employed by Market Rasen Town Council as Town Clerk from mid 2004 to 2008, although her input following an accident in February 2007 was limited.


In its statement, the council said, "Market Rasen Town Council wishes to confirm that its former clerk Lynda Verman is no longer associated with the town council.


"A full and final settlement has been agreed by the two parties, the details of which are covered by a confidentiality clause.


"The council will therefore be making no further statements regarding this matter, but wishes to confirm that elected members and officers will continue to do their best for the town and to supply a quality service to its residents."


Mindful that public money was involved, the Rasen Mail particularly asked about the scale of the settlement, how it was being financed, the scope of legal fees and whether there was insurance cover against the expense. The council chose not to answer these enquiries.


Mrs Vernam also chose not to comment, saying that she too was constrained by the confidentiality clause, but said it had been a privilege to have had the opportunity to serve Market Rasen residents 'for a while'.


* Do you feel the council should be more open with details of how you may be affected by this settlement and where your taxes are being spent? If so lobby the council directly or email jason.hippisley@jpress.co.uk to press the case.