COUNCIL bosses in Wyre Forest forked out almost £130,000 on staff sick pay in 12 months, a report has revealed.

At a full meeting on Wednesday (September 29), Wyre Forest District Council agreed recommendations for chief executive Ian Miller to open negotiations with unions over a new four year pay deal from 2018 to 2022.

In the report to council, figures for 2015/16 showed that the authority paid a total of £128,000 in sick pay with only around £11,000 of that being given to employees who were off work due to illness for more than six months.

Councillor Nathan Desmond, cabinet member for resources, said that the proposed new deal would set a four per cent pay rise ceiling over the period

He also said it would provide certainty for staff and helping the council plan its finances in the long term, particularly against the backdrop of a potential £2million funding gap by 2020.

Councillor Desmond added the current pay model, which was agreed in 2014 and expires in 18 months’ time, has ensured the authority will have avoided £120,000 in wage increase costs by 2017.

As part of a new deal, the ruling Conservative group are also looking to make changes to some terms and conditions, most notably to long service awards and sick pay arrangements.

Currently, staff are given full pay for up to six months off sick which drops by 50 per cent for the following three months off work. This could be reduced as part of the new arrangement.

The report said: “It is clear that the current system gives no incentive to staff who are ill for whatever reason to return to work sooner than six months.

“There is no financial disincentive for staff having short periods of sickness absence, perhaps on more than one occasion in a year.”

Councillor Desmond added: “I believe getting a four-year deal in place is imperative as it gives certainty to staff and helps us plan our own finances with greater clarity.

“We are not making a decision at this stage. We are simply starting the process to give our chief executive the remit to open negotiations with the trade unions. Members of staff will be kept informed throughout the process.”

But Wyre Forest Labour group leader Nigel Knowles said he opposed the proposals while his colleague Councillor Vi Higgs branded them an “absolute stinker”.

Councillor Knowles said: “Wyre Forest District Council is one of the best employers in the district so to put that in jeopardy is a big mistake.

“Even in the risk management part of the report, it states this has the potential for industrial action by union members which isn’t the best way of going into negotiations. There is something mean-spirited about this.”