A HAMPSHIRE council chief due to face allegations of sex discrimination at an employment tribunal today has settled out of court.
Fareham Borough Council leader Sean Woodward was alleged to have acted unfairly against former business partner Lisa Brown over her sexual orientation.
He also faced accusations of unfair dismissal and breach of contract.
The hearing has been scrapped after Miss Brown reached an agreement with the council leader – the details of which have been kept secret.
The allegations arose after Miss Brown opened a physiotherapist centre and NHS dentist called LBHealthcare in Whiteley and later formed a business partnership with Cllr Woodward and his business partner Mark Vincent.
Miss Brown later alleged that she been discriminated against because she was a lesbian who had been living with her partner for 19 years.
Cllr Woodward, a senior Conservative, originally faced six accusations – sex discrimination, discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, breach of contract, unfair dismissal, failure to pay statutory annual leave and failure to pay wages.
The settlement was revealed to the Daily Echo at the weekend – but both sides refused to discuss the details, only confirming that LBHealthcare is now solely owned by Cllr Woodward and Mr Vincent.
Hill Head entrepreneur Miss Brown started her own physiotherapy business in 2000. Her multi-million-pound physiotherapy centre LBhealthcare in Gull Coppice, was officially opened by the council leader in 2005.
The trio went into business in August 2007, forming Ferneham Healthcare Ltd, trading as LBHealthcare.
However, Miss Brown claimed things quickly turned sour and within two months Cllr Woodward and Mr Vincent asked to buy her out of the business.
She refused and claimed she was sacked in October 2007 for gross misconduct and then resigned as a company director.
Miss Brown, 41, told the Daily Echo: “The terms of the settlement are confidential.
I am devastated at losing LBHealthcare, which I spent the past ten years developing, but I have to move on and look forward to devoting my time to my new company.”
Cllr Woodward said he was unable to comment.
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