A TOWN'S former mayor told an industrial tribunal she was so scared of her clerk that she enlisted the help of two councillors when suspending him.

Coun Rowan Blake-James, former mayor of Pocklington, claimed she was "afraid" of clerk Martin Layton, that he was aggressive towards her, and that he had called the council "pathetic and stupid".

But a former acting mayor of the town told the tribunal she had "respect" for Mr Layton, and was grateful for his help during her tenure.

Mr Layton has brought the tribunal against the town council after he was dismissed for gross misconduct following a meeting of its disciplinary panel on March 9, 2001.

He had been Pocklington Town Council's clerk for 15 years, and is claiming he was unfairly dismissed. Coun Blake-James said: "Martin Layton was resistant to change. I found it particularly difficult at times while I was Mayor in 2000 to 2001.

"At times, Martin Layton could be charming. Then he would become very threatening and aggressive. I felt he behaved as if he should be the one in control of the council rather than the council itself.

"I and other town councillors have heard Martin Layton describe Pocklington Town Council as pathetic and stupid. He stated that there was not a brain cell amongst us."

Coun Blake-James said her fear of Mr Layton was such that she asked two councillors to accompany her when suspending him.

The council claims that Mr Layton was dismissed after he lied to councillors regarding an item on an agenda to discuss new disciplinary procedures for

council employees. The tribunal heard that Mr Layton was unhappy with these procedures, which

had altered his contract and did not give him the right to air grievances before the full council, as had taken place previously.

Giving evidence, councillors at the tribunal claimed Mr Layton had listed the item claiming two councillors "who wished to remain anonymous" had suggested the moves.

But when Coun Blake-James challenged the two who had asked for the discussion to come forward at a council meeting, held on February 8, 2001, no-one responded. A row broke out, leading some councillors to leave the meeting.

A disciplinary panel concluded that Mr Layton had lied and said: "the trust between the council and its clerk had been destroyed".

The tribunal, in Leeds, was told that Coun Barry Hodgson and Coun John Cox were named in Mr Layton's appeal as the councillors who had asked for the item to be put on the agenda.

But both denied this when they were interviewed by a panel.

Earlier, a statement was read out from former councillor Richard Bryan, who resigned in the midst of the Layton affair.

He wrote that a clash of personalities existed between Coun Blake- James and Mr Layton.

But former town councillor Christine Laing told the hearing she had been grateful for Mr Layton's help when she had served as acting mayor.

She said: "I am extremely upset (by the council claims). My respect for Martin Layton is undiminished."

The tribunal continues.

Updated: 10:57 Friday, March 08, 2002