PAYMENT packages for former employees of Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) cost taxpayers more than £150,000 in the 18 months up to September 2019. 

Figures for the 2018/19 year show the authority was forced to shell out £51,000 to one ex-worker as bosses made payments for eight separate settlement agreements. 

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These agreements come after employees claim against their employers for what could be a variety of issues. 

This could be, for example, a dispute over holiday pay, discrimination or leave. 

Fees are then usually negotiated between the two parties so the employee’s contract can be cancelled sooner. 

Other large fees recorded from April 2018 to September 2019 include payouts of £39,000 and £37,733. 

The smallest sum in this period was a payment of £2,765.70. 

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In total, BFC shelled out £151,451.65. 

In the same 18 month period, neighbouring authority Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) paid £46,500 in total to end two employees’ contracts early.

Bracknell Forest Council was contacted for comment about the settlement agreements, but due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, is currently unable to respond to media requests. 

A similar investigation by the News from October 2018 resulted in a comment from Nikki Gibbons, a director at BFC, about the nature of the agreements. 

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She said in November 2018: “We have stringent policies and procedures in place to ensure that that these are used in a few exceptional and appropriate individual circumstances.”