29 council workers disciplined

COUNCIL staff in the Vale of Glamorgan have been disciplined for unauthorised absences, financial irregularities and even allegations relating to a gun in a youth centre in the past year.

A total of 29 members of Vale of Glamorgan Council staff have been through disciplinary action in the 12 months leading up to May this year.

Among the incidents, a council staff member is “alleged to have engaged with youths with a gun/ weapon brought into Llantwit Youth centre” and received a final written warning for the incident in January, a Freedom of Information Act request has discovered.

The council dismissed five staff during that timeframe – three of whom were employed in the council’s Learning and Skills department, which manages the Vale’s schools, youth services, libraries and learning centres.

One of those employees lost their job due to “financial irregularities”, while another was fired due to unauthorised absences.

Another staff member, employed in the council’s resources department, which includes HR, IT, legal services and finance, was dismissed after “going AWOL” and fraudulently claiming time while not in work.

A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesman said: “The council has strict and comprehensive guidelines regarding staff conduct.

“Information relating to individual cases is confidential. Each is considered in line with this disciplinary procedure.”