ALARMING sickness levels among council staff, amounting to twice the national target, has prompted bosses to review procedures.

During the last financial year, absence levels at Chester-le-Street District Council amounted to 17 days per employee, more than double the national target of 8.3 days.

Over the year, the problem cost the council £560,200 in pay to absent staff.

Like all public sector employers, they have been given five years to reduce sickness levels to seven days per employee.

Unison, the main union representing council staff, has blamed stress-related illness due to pressure from constant changes and reorganisation.

Now the council is to look into tackling stress levels faced by its employees.

The council commissioned Marsh UK to identify problems and recommend solutions, concentrating particularly on how the council manages stress among staff.

The results were considered by a working group of managers, team leaders and trade union representatives, who have now drafted a strategy to tackle sickness levels.

The draft will be seen by councillors at a meeting on Thursday.

Monthly meetings now take place between managers and personnel to review the previous month's sickness and decide on action such as informal counselling. A health promotion programme has also been launched.

Strategy manager John Banham said: "This report demonstrates that we are modifying procedures and taking advice on what the best arrangements are for managing best attendance at work.

"I think absences are due to a combination of different factors and I think it's probably the same in most organisations."

Government figures released earlier this year revealed high absenteeism at councils across the North-East, with workers taking an average of 11 days off a year.

Even in comparison with other public sector staff, the region's councils fare badly.

Durham Police officers and support staff take an average of 11 days off a year, while the county's teachers take 6.5.

Unison said the figures had come as little surprise, taking into account the pressure council staff were under.