TWO senior leaders of an authority have sensationally quit in the past two weeks, The Observer can reveal, with one taking her case to employment tribunal.

Head of legal services at Slough Borough Council, Amardip Healy, left the organisation this week, the authority confirmed. The Observer has learnt that Mrs Healy is going to tribunal and the case is scheduled for July next year. It concerns a claim for equal pay, breach of contract and victimisation against the council. Mrs Healy said the equal pay claim was also to help other women who still worked at the authority.

Meanwhile, Gurpreet Anand, who previously held the statutory post as Slough Borough Council’s monitoring officer, handed in his resignation on July 21 as assistant director of procurement and commercial services.

As previously reported, Mr Anand was controversially removed from the monitoring officer position in September last year and replaced with his deputy, Linda Walker. But some council cabinet members, including leader Sohail Munawar, had attempted the move initially without going to full council, which is required.

With regard to Mrs Healy’s departure, a spokeswoman for the council said: “Our head of legal services has resigned from the council.

“We are not prepared to discuss the matter further as matters affecting individual members of staff are confidential.”

The Observer was told that councillors were called into a meeting this week concerning the tribunal and told not to comment on the case as it is going to law.

Cllr Diana Coad (UKIP, Langley St Mary’s) claimed elected officials were being treated with contempt and information had already been withheld from them about the case.

She told The Observer: “I find it a disgrace to the people of Slough, to the electorate and a disgrace to Slough Borough Council.”

The council spokeswoman added: “The briefing was about a staffing matter and we arranged a meeting to advise councillors of their rights and responsibilities.”

Mrs Healy’s position is currently filled by interim head of legal services, Sushil Thobhani while Linda Walker is the interim monitoring officer for the organisation.

The Observer has also learnt that the assistant director of strategy and engagement, Tracy Luck, left the organisation just over a month ago on June 30.

The news has raised questions over the council’s ability to retain senior staff and comes just months after former chief executive, Ruth Bagley, left the organisation with a pay off of at least £300,000.

Ms Bagley had been signed off work sick since July last year before her departure was finally announced in December.

Her position has been filled by current interim head of paid service, Roger Parkin.