The cost of paid time off for union officials working for public bodies in Leicestershire has been estimated at more than £540,000 last year.

By law, workplace representatives must be given paid time off to carry out union duties, which can include negotiating on pay and conditions, training and health and safety.

A report by national campaign group the Taxpayers' Alliance compiled the cost of this for public bodies across the country, including councils, fire services, NHS organisations and regional bodies.

At Leicester City Council, paid time off totalling £172,000 was taken by representatives of the GMB, Unison and Joint Trade Unions.

Tory opposition group leader on the council Ross Grant said: "At a time when everything is up for review, unions should not be immune.

"This figure does not include other in-kind support, such as office space, so the real cost is higher."

However, the council's human resources boss, Councillor Mohammed Dawood said: "Trade unions advise on policy development and work with us to ensure fairness and equality in our employment practices.

"They represent a large and complex workforce and in our view provide value for money in terms of the expertise and experience they bring."

Leicestershire County Council said it did not know how much time staff spent on union duties.

Union officials' activity cost East Midlands Development Agency the equivalent of £8,200 in paid time off.

It also gave £161,000 – not included in the Leicestershire total – to fund specific projects.

A spokesman said: "The projects aimed to help workers, managers and skilled migrant workers gain recognised qualifications, with the ultimate aim of improving the performance of individual businesses and raising their productivity."

Paid union time off cost East Midlands Ambulance Service Trust £189,000, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust £74,000 and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service £5,146.

The remainder of the £540,000 was paid by other councils and NHS bodies.

The Taxpayers Alliance said: "Trade unions should pay for representation within public sector organisations themselves through subscriptions. It is unfair that taxpayers have to shoulder that burden."

But a spokesman for Unison said: "Attacking trade unions who work with employers to create an efficient, more motivated workplace is plain daft.

"If trade union stewards are going to represent staff properly, they need time away from their usual jobs to do it.

"If councils or the NHS had to negotiate individually with all their staff, they would be forced to spend a fortune on consultants or mediators."

The alliance figures showed unions received £85.8 million in the UK from public sector organisations in 2009-10.

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