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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Concern at 450 council dismissals | Concern at 450 council dismissals |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| More than 450 council workers in Wales have been sacked since 2006, with those investigated while suspended being paid over £2m in wages, figures reveal. | More than 450 council workers in Wales have been sacked since 2006, with those investigated while suspended being paid over £2m in wages, figures reveal. |
| Sexual assault, bullying and sleeping on duty were among reasons for staff being disciplined, Plaid Cymru found after information requests to councils. | Sexual assault, bullying and sleeping on duty were among reasons for staff being disciplined, Plaid Cymru found after information requests to councils. |
| Caerphilly Council reported the most dismissals - a total of 169 over the two-year period. | Caerphilly Council reported the most dismissals - a total of 169 over the two-year period. |
| The authority's leader Lindsay Whittle said it was an "area of concern". | The authority's leader Lindsay Whittle said it was an "area of concern". |
| Plaid Cymru AM Chris Franks, who compiled the figures following Freedom of Information Act requests, has called for councils to reduce their investigation time for disciplinary cases where possible. | Plaid Cymru AM Chris Franks, who compiled the figures following Freedom of Information Act requests, has called for councils to reduce their investigation time for disciplinary cases where possible. |
| Mr Franks, the AM for South Wales Central, asked for disciplinary statistics for the past two financial years from 2006-08 from Wales's 22 local authorities. | |
| Six local authorities did not provide information. | Six local authorities did not provide information. |
| Plaid is concerned at the length of time that some staff are suspended before decisions are made Chris Franks, Plaid Cymru AM | Plaid is concerned at the length of time that some staff are suspended before decisions are made Chris Franks, Plaid Cymru AM |
| Those that did reported that more than 450 staff were dismissed and over 400 workers were suspended during that time. | Those that did reported that more than 450 staff were dismissed and over 400 workers were suspended during that time. |
| More than £2m was paid in wages to staff under investigation, with the longest single suspension lasting 18 months. | More than £2m was paid in wages to staff under investigation, with the longest single suspension lasting 18 months. |
| Among the reasons for suspension were allegations of misappropriating clients' funds, bullying and intimidating children, stealing a laptop and alcohol-related issues. | Among the reasons for suspension were allegations of misappropriating clients' funds, bullying and intimidating children, stealing a laptop and alcohol-related issues. |
| Caerphilly council, which reported the most dismissals, also paid out the most in wages to suspended staff - £589,165 between 2006-08. | |
| The authority, which is now led by Plaid, was under the control of Labour during the period the figures were recorded. | |
| Mr Franks said: "Plaid is concerned at the length of time that some staff are suspended before decisions are made. | Mr Franks said: "Plaid is concerned at the length of time that some staff are suspended before decisions are made. |
| "This can be for a year or more and during that time staff are paid. | "This can be for a year or more and during that time staff are paid. |
| "I would hope that local authorities wherever possible would look to reduce the investigation time for disciplinary cases. | "I would hope that local authorities wherever possible would look to reduce the investigation time for disciplinary cases. |
| "It is clear that extra pressure is also placed on those who work in the same office or area as those suspended." | "It is clear that extra pressure is also placed on those who work in the same office or area as those suspended." |
| WAGES PAID OUT TO SUSPENDED COUNCIL WORKERS 2006-08 Blaenau Gwent - NoneBridgend - £377,756Caerphilly - £589,165Cardiff - £449,000Carmarthenshire - £441,653Ceredigion - £29,727Denbighshire - £57,900Gwynedd - £91,289Monmouthshire - £79,571Powys - Not statedRCT - £311,570Swansea - Not statedTorfaen - Not statedVale of Glam - Not statedWrexham - £123,219Ynys Mon - £22,767Source: Freedom of Infomation Act requests to Plaid Cymru | WAGES PAID OUT TO SUSPENDED COUNCIL WORKERS 2006-08 Blaenau Gwent - NoneBridgend - £377,756Caerphilly - £589,165Cardiff - £449,000Carmarthenshire - £441,653Ceredigion - £29,727Denbighshire - £57,900Gwynedd - £91,289Monmouthshire - £79,571Powys - Not statedRCT - £311,570Swansea - Not statedTorfaen - Not statedVale of Glam - Not statedWrexham - £123,219Ynys Mon - £22,767Source: Freedom of Infomation Act requests to Plaid Cymru |
| 'Reassuring' | 'Reassuring' |
| Mr Franks said the vast majority of local authority staff were excellent public servants and the number of workers suspended represented a small proportion of local authority employees. | Mr Franks said the vast majority of local authority staff were excellent public servants and the number of workers suspended represented a small proportion of local authority employees. |
| But he added: "It is reassuring for the public to know that those who fall well below the standards expected are weeded out." | But he added: "It is reassuring for the public to know that those who fall well below the standards expected are weeded out." |
| Responding to the figures for Caerphilly, Plaid Cymru council leader Lindsay Whittle said: "It's an area of concern that I will be looking at. | Responding to the figures for Caerphilly, Plaid Cymru council leader Lindsay Whittle said: "It's an area of concern that I will be looking at. |
| "It's something that is going to need investigation and I will be calling for an appropriate report and for a full explanation." | "It's something that is going to need investigation and I will be calling for an appropriate report and for a full explanation." |
| The Welsh Local Government Association has been asked to comment. | The Welsh Local Government Association has been asked to comment. |