Suspended staff paid £100,000 in past year

forms part of the counci il’s OurO People and Workforce Strate egy.

“Our occupational health providp der is assisting with a greater em mpha asis on early intervention supp port f staff.

“There are many different reas for stress and absence which h are all work related. We work wi ith ple to help them with the ir individual situation and o assistance to them.

“All managers are focused attendance management a priority.”

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DU N DE E C it y Cou nc i l pa id suspended staff nearly £100,000 in wages, pension contributions and bonuses in the last year, p r o mpt i n g c r i t i c i s m from opposition councillors.

Figures provided to the Tele through a freedom of information request show eight members of staff have been suspended by the authority in the last year.

In the last 12 months, the local authority has paid suspended workers £82,244 in wages, £16,192 in pension contributions – and £1,177 in bonuses or benefits in kind.

The council refused to release details on how many workers had been allowed back to work or dismissed in the last year, citing data protection laws.

However, there have been a number of high-profile sackings and suspensions in recent months.

Head of construction Mark Ross quit during an investigation into claims he was treated to a golf trip in Spain by a firm given a council contract.

Construction staffer Kenny Muir was sacked during the same probe, while electrical supervisor Iain Gardyne left following claims he sold thousands of pounds’ worth of smoke detectors online.

Labour group leader Kevin Keenan said there are questions the council needs to answer on how it is using its money.

He said: “On a simple calculation of eight employees, £13,200 (per head) would suggest they would have been suspended for some considerable time, which begs the question of procedures in the council to deal with staffing and in particular employment law.

“I am going to question officers on this and seek more detail from them.

“I believe investigations should be carried out swiftly and decisive action taken very quickly where there has been wrong doing.”

A council spokesman said: “Suspension is an integral part of the city council’s disciplinary process. It is a neutral act allowing for a thorough investigation to take place where serious allegations have been made against an employee.”