A few years ago as councillors on one of our committees we started a review of sickness absence/attendance management at the Council. Average number of days off for council staff is now 11.48 days a year a slight improvement from 12 days but still way off acceptable levels. I have pushed for serious action for a long time. Sadly I don’t see enough progress when I see the figures.

On some councils sickness levels are 5 days a year in line with the private sector. At DCC things are not good. Much of this I believe was down to not giving managers the necessary tools and backing, the fact that so many had not had the relevant training, and failed processes.

What was truly horrendous though as I have previously reported was that staff with mental health problems – stress, depression etc – all very serious were not being passed to occupational health for months, in one case someone wasn’t referred for a staggering 300 days!! It had to be gross mismanagement by the Labour Party to blame as we had banged on about changes and made suggestions for years.

The Council has just started a survey of staff to get more information on health and wellbeing. This is more extensive than previously thanks in part to the pressure I and other councillors put on.

However it is not compulsory which in my eyes means the results could be skewed. The survey is fully anonymous so I fail to understand why Labour councillors refused to allow this, especially given that identifying problems is of benefit to all staff, and reduced sickness absence makes for better services and shows there are happier, healthier staff.

After 8 years of banging on about sickness absence by opposition councillors, and especially the Lib Dems, and not seeing any real improvement – this year Labour has no more excuses. Sickness absence amongst council staff must come down more quickly. This can only take place by making sure that we properly invest in the necessary background assistance needed, including in occupational health, and by referring staff quickly when they have a particular problem. The fact that we have some of the worst figures in the Country suggests that Durham has a localised problem. A problem which in my view lies with the Labour councillors failing to get a grip.