MORE than £1.3 million has been paid to Powys County Council staff that were suspended between 2014 and 2019, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

Also during this period, gagging orders known as non-disclosure agreements (nda’s) have been signed by 36 former PCC staff.

Employees who leave an organisation are often asked and compensated when they sign ndas.

This is so they keep quiet from disclosing information or events that could be embarrassing to their employer.

It is questionable whether ndas are enforceable as it depends on “how reasonable” the nda is.

The FOI request made by the Local Democracy Service also asked for how many members of staff had been subject to disciplinary measures?

And how many left the council following the process?

From 2015 to 2018 a total of 95 members of staff were taken through the disciplinary process out of a staff of around 5,000.

Of these 41 left subsequently left PCC and 54 were cleared, PCC also said that “on average” the disciplinary process takes six months.

PCC was unwilling to disclose how many staff took the authority to an employment tribunal using Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act to defend this action.

This allows public authorities to refuse requests for information where the cost of dealing with them would exceed the appropriate limit.

This limit for public authorities is set at £450 which amounts to a maximum of 18 hours of search and retrieval time charged at £25 per person per hour.

When asked if staff who are convicted of criminal offences were put through the disciplinary process PCC replied that: “Each case is different, this will depend on the nature of their role and the allegations.”

The Local Democracy Service has complained to the Information Commissioner for the late reply to this FOI request.

Requests are supposed to be dealt with in 20 working days.

It took 38 days for PCC to answer these questions.

PCC’s Information Compliance Team said: “We regret the delay you have experienced with this request.

“We acknowledge that Powys County Council has failed in its obligation under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, to provide you with a response to your request within the statutory time scale of 20 working days.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in Powys County Council.”