Liverpool City Council sets up £100,000 fund to fight tribunal claims

A local authority has set aside £100,000 in next year's budget for legal fees to defend itself against employment claims by teachers.

Liverpool City Council decided to create the fund after its costs from fighting employment tribunals soared.

The council currently has 12 outstanding tribunal claims against it from teachers. Last year, authorities across the UK shelled out £20m for employment and criminal claims from school workers.

A spokesman for Liverpool City Council told Personnel Today: "Complaints are becoming more complex and time-consuming.

"We spoke to head teachers and they believed that having a central pot was a good idea."