A councillor has received a payout of £2,500 after an employment tribunal ruled he had been unfairly dismissed from his position at a Borehamwood community centre.

Peter Hedges lost his job in March last year after working as bar manager at Three Ways Community Centre, in Arundel Drive, since September 2004.A tribunal heard the case against the Three Ways Community Association in February, and details of the judgement were made public on Thursday last week.The judgement said Mr Hedges' dismissal was "automatically unfair" as it did not comply with statutory dismissal procedures laid down by the Employment Act 2002."The claimant was not, by letter, invited to a dismissal meeting. Nor did they the association hold a dismissal meeting or give the claimant a right of appeal."That is sufficient to render the claimant's dismissal unfair."The tribunal heard evidence from Mr Hedges, who is a member of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council, and Councillor Ernie Butler, as well as the current manager of the centre, Pamela Matthews, and chairman of the association, Frank Ward, who represented the centre.Mr Hedges claimed he learnt of the termination of his employment only when a notice was posted in the centre stating his post would be abolished.Mr Ward said the association had agreed the re-organisation of staff roles with Mr Hedges, and said he had applied for the position of centre manager but was unsuccessful.Awarding Mr Hedges £2,522, the tribunal panel said in its judgement: "Although they the association are at fault for not completing the statutory procedures, we felt it would be inequitable to increase the award because the cost would fall on the members of the association."Commenting on the judgement, Mr Ward said: "I don't think he should have got anything, but what he did get was not what he set out to."I think his solicitor took advantage of the fact we couldn't afford a barrister or solicitor because we are a registered charity."I did not receive the papers until one and a half days before the tribunal. I was working until 1am and getting up at 4am to prepare, I couldn't cope with it."I would have gone to appeal but I don't have the time because of my work."Mr Hedges said: "I am happy with the original outcome. But I do not want to comment further until I have read the judgement fully."