Former chief executive continues legal battle with council after axing of her post

A former chief executive of Leicester City Council, who lost her job after the role was axed by its directly-elected mayor, is set to continue her legal battle with the authority on a number of fronts despite this week being refused permission on the papers to launch a judicial review challenge.

A spokesman for Leicester confirmed that it had received an indication that Sheila Lock would renew her application for a full hearing.

The council has meanwhile lodged its response to separate proceedings in the Employment Tribunal. The parties are now waiting for these proceedings to be listed. It is expected that the hearing will take place next year.

Sir Peter Soulsby announced plans for the removal of the chief executive post immediately after his election as mayor of Leicester in May.

The mayor justified the move as part of a drive to reduce the costs of senior management at a time when the council faced a reduction in central government funding of £100m over the following three years. He argued that there was a significant overlap between his role and that of the chief executive.

The chief executive post was formally abolished at a council meeting in August.