Concern at 450 council dismissals

There were 169 dismissals at Caerphilly council between 2006-08

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.

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".

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

"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 - None Bridgend - £377,756 Caerphilly - £589,165 Cardiff - £449,000 Carmarthenshire - £441,653 Ceredigion - £29,727 Denbighshire - £57,900 Gwynedd - £91,289 Monmouthshire - £79,571 Powys - Not stated RCT - £311,570 Swansea - Not stated Torfaen - Not stated Vale of Glam - Not stated Wrexham - £123,219 Ynys Mon - £22,767 Source: Freedom of Infomation Act requests to Plaid Cymru

'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.

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.

"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.