ANGRY union bosses today reacted to the news that a company running a hugely controversial sickness scheme for York council sent an authority boss cheese and wine for Christmas.

Keith Martin, City of York Council's head of adult services, was sent a gift set from regal food smiths Fortnum & Mason by Active Health Partners (AHP) - the firm running the department's sickness pilot scheme.

In line with formal procedures, the gift set, which was delivered to the council's offices in George Hudson Street on Friday, was donated to an elderly persons' home.

Today, Heather McKenzie, Unison spokeswoman, said the organisation found the gift "totally inappropriate".

She said councillors have agreed in principle to give AHP a two-year contract - but that deal had not yet been signed, with the union threatening strikes if it went through.

Council chiefs claim sickness has been slashed in the department since the company was first employed on a trial basis.

The 1,000-strong department had annually lost 28 days per full-time worker - at a cost of £2.3 million.

The union said the figures - which showed the number of people falling sick in the department, dropping by 21 per cent in the first six months of the trial - were "misleading".

It said staff felt pressured to return to work and argued the council should focus on reducing workload and how staff were treated and supported.

A council spokeswoman said: "The council's community services team did receive a gift set containing a bottle of wine and piece of cheese from AHP.

"There are formal procedures in place for when such incidents occur and, as always, these were followed on this occasion.

"In keeping with procedure, the individual that the item was addressed to declined to accept it, and details

of it were recorded on a formal gift register. The gift item has since been donated to one of our elderly persons' homes."

Ms McKenzie, general convenor of the York branch, said: "It is totally inappropriate such gifts should be sent to the council. Why do you give gifts?

"It is usually because you want to keep on good terms or get business. It highlights their lack of understanding of the expectations and standards of authorities."

An AHP spokeswoman said: "Since City of York Council introduced the nurse-led absence reporting service provided by AHP, there has been a significant reduction in absence frequency and overall drop in working days lost.

"AHP's nurse contact centre has reported employees calling on long-term sickness leave are grateful for the support.

"And with the recent influx in cold/flu symptoms at this time of year, AHP further reports a high percentage of employees grateful for the advice from the nurses."

On the gift giving, she said: "Christmas is a time of giving, and AHP share the spirit of tradition with our own employees as well as clients and suppliers.

"AHP firmly believes the act of giving between individuals and companies reflects the genuine spirit of Christmas."

Updated: 10:33 Thursday, December 22, 2005