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 include allowing fathers-to-be paid time off to attend ante-natal classes with their partners.

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

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

But Independent councillor for Weardale John Shuttleworth said: "We are running a multi-million pound business, not a Butlins holiday establishment. The council brought in flexible working a year ago and does everything to help its staff already. It shouldn't go to this extent."

But the assistant branch secretary of the 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.

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

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