The £1 million cost of paying the salaries of three suspended council bosses is worth around 35 public sector jobs, the union Unison has claimed.
The trio have been suspended on full pay since their initial arrests in 2013.
Local Labour and Plaid Cymru politicians have criticised the Crown Prosecution Service and have demanded compensation for the costs incurred by the council.
Gary Enright, Unison Caerphilly County Branch Secretary, said: “The length of time the CPS has taken is very disappointing indeed; it’s been nearly two and a half years and has a cost significant amount of tax-payers money which must be reimbursed. Unison members were appalled at the awards made as evidenced by the lunchtime walkout of hundreds of members in protest. The three senior officers remain suspended and the authority is duty bound to continue the investigation.
“The salary costs of the suspended officers alone are in excess of £1m. Given the context of serious and concerted pressures on local authority spending and the cuts that have been made, £1m would be worth around 35 public sector jobs in our community. We urge Caerphilly County Council to proceed with their internal processes as soon as possible to bring this to a swift conclusion.”
Mr O’Sullivan, Mr Perkins and Mr Barnett had each faced a single charge of misconduct in a public office between June 25 2012 and October 10 2012.
The decision to charge the men followed a police investigation into a Wales Audit Office report into pay rises awarded to senior council officers.
The report by the WAO found the decision to award secret pay rises to 20 council bosses was unlawful because Mr O’Sullivan had himself written a report recommending the pay rises and that he was present at a secret meeting that agreed them.
The meeting of itself, attended by five councillors, was also unlawfully held because it was not publicised beforehand.
Speaking after the judge had dismissed the case on Tuesday, a Caerphilly County Borough Council spokeswoman said: “The three officers will remain suspended while the council now deals with matter in accordance with its own procedures.”
Also speaking on Tuesday, a CPS spokesman said: “This was a complicated, wide-reaching and lengthy investigation into serious allegations against council employees. The investigation was conducted by Avon and Somerset Constabulary at the request of Gwent Constabulary.
“CPS South West’s Complex Casework Unit took the decision to charge the three defendants following extensive consultation with the police. Since that time the prosecution team has pursued the case within the proper judicial process.”
Not to worry, a massive tax increase is soon to follow to pay for this debacle.
Rather than increasing the council tax to pay for this perhaps Caerphilly Council could sack 35 of its public sector workers then.