A south Wales council has suspended a senior officer in social services.

Rhondda Cynon Taff is also continuing the suspension of a senior officer in its finance department pending an internal investigtion.

The council's social services department was recently severely criticised in a joint report by the Audit Commission and the Social Services Inspectorate.

A report published by the authority on Wednesday has also highlighted substantial errors in financial calculations dating back to 1997.

'Urgent action'

The auditor's report said: "It seems likely that members have been asked to make important budget decisions for 2001/2002 on the basis of seriously flawed financial information.

"Urgent action must now be taken by the council to turn the position around and to help begin to restore public confidence in the way the council conducts its financial affairs," it added.

A report by the chief executive of the Plaid Cymru-led council, which was Labour-controlled until last year, recommended that the district auditor's proposals were adopted by the council.

But it said implementation should be deferred for a short period until planned changes have taken place in the finance department.