THE cost of paying city council staff, who were suspended during investigations into their behaviour, topped £300,000 in the year until April.

The figure related to 40 employees suspended, including 24 from the environmental services department.

A further £185,000 was spent on pay-offs and settlements after investigations.

Mark Wallace, campaign director for the Taxpayers' Alliance, said the high sums were an indication of inquiries taking too long.

"It is not fair on taxpayers or the staff involved for investigations and suspensions to drag on like this," he said.

"It is important for the staff morale and to keep the bills down that these investigations are carried out swiftly and promptly.

"People pay their council tax to get services in return, not for the council to get embroiled in lengthy internal disputes."

Earlier this year, the Evening Telegraph revealed alleged theft and misconduct had led to an investigation in the environmental services department.

Of the £306,260 paid to staff while suspended, £127,000 related to the environmental services department inquiry. The remainder of the suspensions were across a range of council departments

Council leader Hilary Jones said: "The length of an investigation depends on the complexity of the allegations. Some were straightforward and finished in a matter of a few months, others were more involved and will take longer.

"I am extremely keen to see an end to these investigations, I have made my views on that very clear in the past. But I also want to make sure the investigations are thorough and conclusive and lead to affirmative legal action where appropriate. They will take as long as they take.''

The environmental services inquiry was launched following claims staff installed council property in private homes, stole metal from buildings, sold it off and pocketed the proceeds.

And follow-up investigations were also carried out after further claims were made that pressure was put on staff to change statements.

Mrs Jones wanted the police to be called in to investigate the matter but officers said they were waiting to see the findings of an internal audit before they became involved.

They have been kept informed of the proceedings at the council in the meantime.

A former environmental services employee, who was suspended for several months as part of an investigation, criticised the length of time staff were kept in limbo for.

"This matter was first brought to the council's attention in February 2007 and they didn't start investigating until around three months later and what is more the matter is still ongoing. I think it is a travesty it is taking them this long," he said.

High-profile suspensions in the environmental services department included its former director John Winters, who resigned in May 2007 after being suspended in February.

The authority refused to reveal the nature of the allegations and said it had signed an agreement with Mr Winters which prevented further comment.

Interim director Dave Pickering was brought in from May but has now been replaced by Paul Robinson, corporate director of environmental services.

Mr Robinson said he was doing everything to deal with the complaints fully, fairly and speedily.

"It depends on the complexity of the issue being looked into and if it is a large issue that takes time you have to do that properly to be fair to both the person who has complained and also the person being investigated," he said.

"However, obviously complex investigations do take time.

"Clearly I'm trying to make sure any investigation that is ongoing is dealt with as quickly as possible, that is the best way for all parties concerned but it has to also be thorough, fair and in line with employment laws."

He said the ongoing audit in his department was made up of several different investigations, some of which had been dealt with and some were nearing completion.

Regional secretary for Unison, Charlie Carruth, said the situation in environmental services was exceptional.

He said: "Some departments do have high number of investigations and suspensions because of the nature of their work and the groups they work with so you may expect higher amounts there.

"However, I think the situation in environmental services has been exceptional. If that department is high up in the list for the costs, that would not be what I'd expect to find generally with councils and I've been a union rep for 20-odd years.

"I think to be fair to councils, one size does not fit all when it comes to suspensions and they have to make sure everything is done properly. I think there is a feeling though from the union that some suspensions do seem to be overlong."