THE council remains committed to carrying out work to reduce sickness absence among staff.

The average number of sick days lost in the past 12 months up until June was 12.80, compared to 12.62 in the previous year.

A target of 12 days per employee has been set by the council to improve the figures in the year ahead.

"The council is committed to improving the attendance of employees and we have a target of an average of 12 days absence due to sickness per employee, per year," said a council spokesman.

"We continue to work hard to reduce sickness absence across the council through a range of interventions and health and wellbeing initiatives."

Cllr Hitesh Patel (LAB – Great Sankey South), executive member for personnel and communications, has raised the matter to fellow councillors and provided an update on the measures in place to reduce sickness absence.

He said: "Managers and human resources continue to work together to target activity to further reduce sickness absence and to develop a new action plan to get closer to the corporate target of 12 days."

Council leader Terry O'Neill has praised the work of staff despite the added pressures due to the Government cuts and insists they will continue delivering for the town.