A former City of York Council director who oversaw projects including the Station Gateway has taken the authority to an employment tribunal.
The hearing for Neil Ferris, who served as the council’s corporate director of economy and place until August, is set to be held in Leeds on Thursday, 17 April.
The council declined to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.
Mr Ferris left his role last year after working at the council for 11 years, according to his LinkedIn profile.
His profile stated he was responsible for more than £40m of council functions linked to maintenance and regeneration.
He also managed a commercial property portfolio worth more than £50m and a capital programme in excess of £300m.
Mr Ferris also worked on a Guildhall refurbishment and the infrastructure for York Central.
He oversaw a £100m flood defence scheme and worked on York’s Local Plan for development which was adopted in February.
Mr Ferris previously served as the council’s assistant director of transport, highways and waste and director of city and environmental services.
In an email sent by Mr Ferris to staff at City of York Council last summer, seen by YorkMix, he said he hadn’t left of his own volition.
He wrote: “I have decided to send an all staff email as there has I understand been lots of speculation and rumour as to why I am leaving the Council so I can only recount the facts that I am not going to another job, I have not been made redundant, I have not been sacked nor am I leaving of my own volition so l am unfortunately not in a position to host a free bar.”
He was a director of waste companies in Merseyside prior to joining York Council and worked at North Lincolnshire Council in the 2000s.
The former council official is now a director for the Dunnington-based NJAG Ferris Solutions Ltd.
It’s not the first time City of York Council has encountered a legal challenge following the departure of a top director.
In 2021, then council leader Keith Aspden had to apologise after agreeing a secret £404,000 council payout to former chief executive Mary Weastell.
Ms Weastell had filed an employment tribunal claim against him before the payout.