Suspended workers cost £843,118 in pay

Paying salaries for suspended council workers in Staffordshire and the West Midlands cost taxpayers £843,118, new figures have revealed.

Local authorities in the region have sent 193 staff home on full pay since April 2009 according to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act. Reasons for suspending workers include "sleeping on the job" and "alleged kidnap".

Pressure group the Taxpayers Alliance says councils are not doing enough to cut down lengthy legal processes.

These lead, says the Alliance, to people being sent home and being paid while awaiting the outcome of disciplinary action.

The largest amount revealed in the region was paid by Sandwell Council, which suspended 56 staff at a cost of £479,387.

Taxpayers paid for 5,661 of missed days of work, all of which were down to alleged gross misconduct.

In Wolverhampton 26 staff were suspended for a variety of reasons including bullying and sexual misconduct, fraud or falsification, misuse of council internet and email, a sexual offence and even "sleeping while on duty".

Walsall Council workers were suspended for working whilst receiving sick pay, assault and breach of immigration.

There was also an "alleged kidnap" giving rise to a suspension.

Dudley Council suspended staff for allegedly falsifying timesheets, benefit fraud, being absent without leave and misusing equipment among other reasons.

Lichfield workers face allegations of "potential gross misconduct" while in Cannock Chase the reasons included sexual misconduct, violence or assault, breach of procedure and working practices.

Matthew Sinclair, of the Alliance, said: "Taxpayers will be shocked that so many employees were paid for months on end whilst suspended and waiting for a decision about their future. This isn't good for taxpayers, the council or the individual involved.

"Local authorities must ensure that action is taken and suspensions are dealt with swiftly and cases don't drag on, leaving taxpayers picking up the bill for staff who are off work for long periods and temps to cover their absence."