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Sickness absence levels among Caerphilly County Borough Council’s staff are falling but remain “too high”.

A senior officer told cabinet members the council is expected to record a clean sweep of lower absence rates this year, compared to the previous 12 months.

New figures show both short- and long-term sickness leave has fallen throughout the year, and peaked at 6.99% last June.

Director of people services Lynne Donovan said the council wanted to see further improvements.

“It looks as if we are going to be reporting a lower full-time equivalent absence than last year, but… despite the reduction it is still too high and we are recognising that,” she told a cabinet meeting on Wednesday March 18.

“We are moving in the right direction but we do have more work to do.”

Council leader Jamie Pritchard accepted the level of staff sickness absence “has been an issue”.

“There’s no point disputing that,” he said, adding it was “pleasing to see” the downward trend.

Chief executive Richard Edmunds added the report showed “good signs we are recovering in terms of our sickness absence” levels.