GLASGOW City Council has failed to reach its absence reduction targets.

It had set a target of 7.4 days lost every year to absence on average.

However, for 2017/18 the council recorded 8.9 days lost on average.

It is a small increase on the year before wherewith 8.8 sick days.

A council spokesman said: “We have a large staff group and the reasons for absences are wide and varied.

“Our response also depends very much on individual circumstances.

“However, broadly speaking, we try to support positive health – through a range of measures, from providing flu-jabs to access to help with managing stress and programmes promoting exercise – while challenging persistent absenteeism.

“Clearly, some people will face significant health challenges during their working lives and we have resources in place to help.”

However, the executives have beat their target of 4.4 days, with 3.1.

Teachers have managed to increase the number of sick days to 5.5, above the target of five days.

All council staff minus teachers took 10.4 days off on the sick last year, well above the target of 6.86.

The council has marked absence rates as an area that requires “improvement and close monitoring”.

Conservative’s councillor Kyle Thornton said: “There are always times when staff are unable to attend work due to ill health but for the Council to have missed its absence targets for the last financial year is disappointing.

“We need to work to create an environment where staff are supported to remain at work such as work to support staff to manage stress and ensuring we always work in the safest way possible.

“I recognise that there is work happening to try and improve the situation but it is clear that more needs done. Reducing absences isn’t just good for staff, it means Council Services will have more available staff which benefits residents who want excellent local services.”

The information was presented in the CED: Council Strategic Plan Priorities and the majority of targets in other areas have been met.

The CED will be scrutinized by councillors at the Operational Performance and Delivery Scrutiny Committee Agenda tomorrow (Wednesday).

It was part of the Chief Executive’s Department – Operational Performance report for Quarter 4 that will be heard.