Deal’s MP is calling for councillors accused of bullying to foot the bill of a £45,000 pay-out to the former town clerk Lin Dykes.

MP Charlie Elphicke said the “substantial sum of money” that has been agreed by Deal Town Council is a “serious waste of taxpayers’ money.”

Mrs Dykes left the Town Hall in September claiming she was bullied, that there was sex discrimination and she was regularly overworked.

The mayor, Cllr Marlene Burnham was named in a report of an appeal hearing, which had been leaked to the press.

She was accused of breech of confidence – showing Cllr Ian Killbery a confidential letter of concern from Mrs Dykes to Cllr Burnham which should not have been disclosed.

Cllr Killbery and Cllr Kath Blackburn were also implicated.

Mr Elphicke added: “There should be no place in local politics for bullying and sex discrimination.

“It is simply depressing that a number of councillors seem more interested in covering it up than taking responsibility.”

"There should be no place in local politics for bullying and sex discrimination" - Charlie Elphicke MP

The £45,000 sum – incorrectly reported in another newspaper – was agreed between Mrs Dykes and the council instead of reaching a tribunal.

The shambles means all town councillors have been asked to go on a course dealing with bullying and harassment organised by ACAS.

This is being arranged by the acting town clerk, Lorna Crow.

Councillors have been given a date in January and three dates in February to choose from.

In November the police were called after somebody fixed a banner to the Town Hall on Bonfire Night.

The sheet said it was “symbolically” blowing up the shenanegins of the mayor and other councillors in a protest that mirrored the Gunpowder Plot.

Police were not able to decipher who was responsible because the CCTV cameras did not pick up the protest.

The case has been dropped.