PLANS for more family-friendly policies for council workers have been criticised by a councillor.

Durham County Council is developing its proposals in the wake of the Employment Act 2002, which is designed to help parents balance work and family commitments.

The proposals, backed by the Labour-run council's human resources committee, include allowing fathers-to-be paid time off to attend ante-natal classes with their partners.

There are also plans to extend paid compassionate leave for workers who have to deal with problems connected to elderly relatives, and changes to unpaid parental leave.

Acting head of personnel services John Lee said the Government believed family-friendly policies would improve staff morale, reduce absenteeism, reduce staff turnover and reduce the amount spent on recruitment.

But the independent councillor for Weardale, John Shuttleworth, said: "We are running a multi-million pound business, not a holiday camp establishment.

"The council brought in flexible working a year ago and does everything to help its staff already.

"It is going way over the top. They say it could cost the authority £5,500, but how do they know how many people will take advantage of the scheme. It could be a lot more."

But the assistant branch secretary of the public employees union Unison, Paul Thompson, said: "We have been lobbying at national level for family-friendly policies for a long time.

"We will have to look at the council's policies to see that they properly reflect the legislation.

"Too often, family-friendly means mother and child and how we facilitate that relationship, but our members have relationships that go beyond that to elderly relatives.

"Our concern is to see that policies like these are implemented fairly and consistently across the board.''

He said the council would benefit from better staff morale and motivation.

The union is to consider the council's proposals in detail.