The Suffolk Hyde Affair - Doc 72 CFO Simon Smith

Lowestoft Fire station
PO Box 54
Lowestoft
NR 32 2QA

22 – 03 - 1999

Dear DCFO Smith,

In response to your letter of 19th March 1999, I would advise as follows.

Your secretary spoke to me by telephone on 1st March. I attach a copy of my letter to her dated 11th March (Doc 64).

You appear to be misguided. To avoid all doubt. I did not offer or entertain any possibility of being prepared to allow you to frustrate my grievance until 31st March whilst in conversation with your secretary on 1st March. As you will observe from the attached document I offered your secretary a further 7 days grace for you to hear my grievance, until 7th March. This was subject to certain undertakings. No such undertakings were given.

As to your apparent belief that I have agreed to a variation in the contractual time limits associated with the grievance procedure. Yes you are right I have agreed/offered a variation in the time limits. To be precise the variation offered was 7 days. I note you have been incapable of complying with such a reasonable offer.

I note your reference made to the County Court Summons. I have still to make a full consideration of the County solicitor’s letter, received on the same day as your letter dated 19th March. Please ensure my grievance is passed forward and listed for hearing by the appeals panel of members drawn from the personnel sub committee. As far as I am concerned I still have a grievance. Indeed, by the admission of liability made by the County solicitor it is a very serious grievance, one that arises from an obvious unlawful order.

Yours faithfully

MJ Hyde