THE 16-MONTH suspension of a clerk alleged to have adult images on his work computer is ‘bankrupting’ a small community council, councillors have said.

Leaked emails show the depth of concern in Sully and Lavernock Community Council at their financial plight.

The council has effectively been paying for two clerks since September 2017, when David Roberts was suspended over the allegations of adult images and non-council-related work on his work PC.

His suspension on full pay has lasted for more than 16 months as disciplinary proceedings have not been resolved, and an acting clerk has been hired by the council.

In the leaked emails, one member urges the community council to resolve Mr Roberts’ ongoing suspension, saying it is “well down the road to bankrupting this council”.

The councillor calls on the public body to stop paying out two clerks’ and two groundsmans’ salaries every month and to stop all capital expenditure and only fund essential revenue costs.

He said he is yet to see any evidence behind Mr Roberts’ original suspension.

More emails leaked show the wage bill for the council is projected to be £80,000 on March 31, around half the council’s expenditure, but its funding for 2019/20 could be cut to £132,000 – which means it would have to cut around £30,000 to balance its budget.

The council is understood to be looking to increase its council tax precept by 2.5 per cent next year.

Sully and Lavernock Community Council has refused to answer a Freedom of Information request, from the Local Democracy Reporting Service asking how much the disciplinary action against Mr Roberts has cost or details on his salary.

The LDRS has asked the Information Commissioner’s Office to investigate.

Five councillors voted to suspend Mr Roberts at a council meeting on September 27, 2017, after concerns were raised.

In a further meeting, the council voted not to notify the police of the situation.

Internal reports by the Bridgend and Vale Partnership – a joint venture between Bridgend and Vale of Glamorgan councils – in November 2017 seen by the LDRS claims to have found evidence of inappropriate behaviour by Mr Roberts on his work computer and a memory stick.

They say Mr Roberts was seen in the Sully council offices the morning after he was suspended with his computer on before he was asked to leave - councillors then accessed the PC and found files in the recycle bin they believe Mr Roberts was trying to delete.

One report says six images of “an adult / inappropriate nature” were found on Mr Roberts’ work computer all dated July 20 2015 – but it was “unclear” how they came to be on the PC.

Documents recovered by auditors suggested Mr Roberts had been using the computer for work not connected with the council – including letters, payslips, invoices and accounts for seven community groups. A report says Mr Roberts never declared any other interests to the council.

When approached by the LDRS for comment, Sully council said “it would be entirely inappropriate for the community council to comment on anything pertaining to Mr Roberts.  This arises for a number of reasons which include the confidentiality of the employment relationship and data protection”.

The council did not comment further.

Mr Roberts confirmed to the LDRS he is employed by the council as its clerk, but said “this is a personnel issue which is confidential” and did not comment further.

Councillor Steve Oaten, chairman of the council, also declined to comment when approached.