Gloucester City Council bosses suspended in 'nepotism' probe

THREE council employees have been suspended over allegations they unfairly used family ties to appoint a new employee.

Two managers and an officer at the city council have been suspended from their posts, subject to an ongoing investigation into alleged nepotism, The Citizen understands.

A claim that a council officer had been given a job without it being advertised correctly is being looked at by an investigation panel made up of council officials and members outside the organisation.

Some council workers are unhappy about the allegation, particularly in the light of recent cuts to jobs and services.

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"In a situation where other people are being made redundant, the allegation is that a job was not properly advertised," said one city council insider, who did not wish to be named.

Because of Government cuts, the council is making savings worth around £1.2million this year on top of £3.5million in the last financial year.

The council shed 37 posts in 2011/2 from a workforce of around 400.

Because of the investigation, the council is limited in what it can say about the matter.

It would not reveal who the employees concerned are, what departments they work in, nor when they were suspended.

But The Citizen understands that three people have been suspended.

"It relates to allegations made about a member of staff employing a member of their family and procedures not being followed," said the worker.

Internal

"Two managers have been suspended."

The other person suspended is understood to be an officer.

All the council would say yesterday was released in an official statement.

It read: "This is an internal matter which is currently subject to investigation."