Despite the claim that financial pressures are forcing Rhondda Cynon Taff Council to cut services, increase prices and enforce one of the highest Council Tax rise in the country, the Labour administration have still spent millions on enhanced redundancy payments for just 56 employees.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats first exposed the scandal in 2010 when they revealed that compensatory payment costing millions of pounds were being paid on top of the early access to pension and statutory redundancy payments.
Welsh Liberal Democrat Councillor Mike Powell says it is a disgrace that the practice is still continuing
"In the 18 months up to January of this year figures show that the Council spent well over £3 million on voluntary redundancy payments for 56 employees.
"Of this almost half was in the form of compensatory payments which the Council are under no obligation to pay.
"Now whilst we would not want to see anyone leave without their due recompense it is ludicrous that at a time when everyone is having to tighten their belts the Labour controlled Council in RCT are handing over such huge bonus payments to public sector employees. Of course, as always, it is those at the top of the tree who were earning the most and have a substantial pension to look forward to who are benefiting the most.
"As we said previously there are questions to be asked such as when and how did these posts become redundant and if a post is redundant then why are we paying a compensatory payment on top of the early access to pension and statutory redundancy payments?"
Figures released under a Freedom on Information request show that between 5th July 2011 and 30 January 2013 nine meetings of the VER panel were held to discuss payments to 56 staff members.

http://pontylibdems.org.uk/en/document/voluntary-early-rdeundancy-costs-...

Statutory redundancy payments amounted to £628,173, and on top of this early access to pension payments cost £984,173.
This amount practically doubled by the addition of non-statutory 'compensatory' payments of £1,548,962.
RCT Welsh Liberal Democrat Campaign Manager Karen Roberts said residents of Rhondda Cynon Taff would be justifiable angry
"The Labour administration has just voted to increase Council tax by 3.95%, one of the highest increases in Wales. They will be putting up all service costs by at least 8%, charging for bulky waste collection and cutting services such as weekly refuse collection.
"Other Councils only make these additional 'compensatory' payments in exceptional circumstances. Rhondda Cynon Taff hand them out like confetti, and scrutiny is non existent with the panel meetings lasting around five minutes each time.
"This is public money they are spending. Money they should be accountable to the electorate for. They need to revise their policy on this - everyone is entitled to a fair deal, but this is way beyond fair."