Cash payouts totalling more than £54,000 were made by Medway Council to staff who were planning to take the authority to an industrial tribunal.

They are now understood to be considering employment tribunal challenges alleging they were bullied, harassed and forced out of work by their overspending bosses. In the past two years, 29 staff have gone to the tribunal.

Eight were paid a total of £54,835.89 by council officers to settle their claims before their cases were aired in public.

The figures were obtained by the Medway Messenger following a Freedom of Information request.

* More on this story in Monday's print edition of the Medway Messenger.