Former Trafford Council whistleblower brings unfair dismissal claim after exposing unlawful council tax reduction scheme 

Alex Jolley, who worked for Trafford Council as a Benefits Advice Officer for almost ten years, alleges he was dismissed after repeatedly raising concerns that Trafford's Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) was unlawful and then referring affected residents to specialist lawyers when, he says, his concerns were not addressed internally.   

Alex worked for the council from July 2016 until his dismissal in January 2026. During that time, he developed a reputation as an experienced and skilled welfare rights advisor, receiving positive feedback from service users and an internal staff award for his work. 

Represented by law firm Leigh Day, Alex alleges that, as part of his professional duties, he identified concerns that Trafford Council's 2025/2026 CTRS was unlawfully calculating entitlement for some Universal Credit claimants by effectively double counting certain forms of income, potentially affecting thousands of residents and particularly those with disabilities or with the care of disabled children. 

Alex first raised those concerns internally with managers before seeking external legal advice and referring individual residents for specialist representation because of the strict time limits for bringing a judicial review challenge. 

Leigh Day subsequently represented two Trafford residents in a judicial review challenging the CTR scheme. In September 2025, the High Court ruled that Trafford Council’s 2025-26 Council Tax Reduction Scheme was unlawful and quashed the scheme, requiring the council to revert to the previous year’s arrangements while a lawful replacement was introduced. 

Alex alleges that, instead of addressing his legitimate concerns, Trafford Council sought to minimise the issues and suspended him in April 2025 after he assisted his clients to obtain specialist legal advice. He states that he was then subjected to lengthy disciplinary proceedings before ultimately being dismissed for gross misconduct in January 2026. 

His claim argues that he was unfairly dismissed because he made protected disclosures under whistleblowing legislation and was subjected to detriments, including suspension and disciplinary action, because he raised concerns about the lawfulness of the council’s scheme. 

Alex’s Employment Tribunal claim alleges that the High Court’s findings vindicated the concerns he had raised months earlier, both internally and externally, about the operation of the scheme. It also alleges that Alex was acting in accordance with Trafford Council’s own Poverty Strategy. 

Alex is represented by Ryan Bradshaw, human rights partner at Leigh Day. 

Alex said:  

"Throughout my career my priority has always been ensuring vulnerable residents receive the support they are legally entitled to. As a welfare rights adviser, that is both my professional responsibility and my personal commitment. 

"When I became concerned that Trafford’s council tax reduction scheme was operating unlawfully and disadvantaging residents, I raised those concerns internally. When those concerns were not addressed, I believed I had a duty to ensure affected residents could obtain independent legal advice before the opportunity to challenge the scheme expired. 

"The High Court ultimately found that the scheme was unlawful. Despite that, I was suspended and later dismissed. I believe I was punished for doing what my role required me to do - acting in the best interests of residents and raising concerns about unlawful conduct." 

Ryan said: 

"This claim raises important issues about the protection afforded to employees who raise concerns about unlawful conduct in the course of their work. As a dedicated public servant Alex repeatedly attempted to raise his concerns internally before seeking external legal advice on behalf of residents. The appearance that he has been dismissed for seeking to ensure thousands of Trafford residents were not disadvantaged by an unlawful policy is incredibly troubling. 

"The law is clear that workers should not be subjected to disciplinary action or dismissal because they make protected disclosures in the public interest. Alex’s case will seek to ensure this important law is upheld."