Haringey Council has successfully reduced its reliance on agency staff through a strategic drive to enhance workforce stability and improve cost efficiency, leading to a significant decrease in costs, according to the People Report presented at the General Purposes Committee meeting on Thursday, 9th October, 2025.
The People Report, designed to provide officers and members with relevant workforce data in an easy to understand format to support informed strategic decision making, highlighted a 21.4% decrease in agency worker headcount. This reduction translates to a 22.6% drop in full-time equivalent (FTE) agency staff and a 20.1% reduction in associated costs. As a result, agency workers now account for 8.6% of the total workforce, down from 10.8%.
The council's strategy includes limiting agency worker engagement where possible, while recognising their critical role in addressing short-term staffing gaps and responding to short-term service demands.
The council's strategic drive to enhance workforce stability and improve cost efficiency has also impacted the use of off-payroll workers earning £500 or more per day. Headcount in this category decreased by 6.7%, leading to a 13% reduction in costs.
The People Report also indicated a positive trend in the council's overall financial performance. The total pay bill for the quarter has reduced by 2.5%.
While the overall number of employees leaving the council increased, the proportion leaving due to resignation or retirement decreased. Additionally, the number of employees under 40 leaving the council decreased, indicating stronger engagement and retention among younger employees. However, the number of new starters over the past rolling year decreased by 7.1%.
Improvements were also noted in employee health and well-being, with sickness rates showing a decline. Average days lost to sickness decreased by 6.6%, with both long-term and short-term absences declining. This resulted in a £362,000 reduction in sickness-related costs.
Apprenticeship levels across the council have remained stable overall. The rise in numbers within the Adults, Housing and Health directorate is primarily linked to the recent restructure, where parts of Placemaking and Housing integrated into its remit.
The General Purposes Committee, chaired by Councillor Cressida Johnson, reviewed the People Report, which was authorised by Dan Paul, Chief People Officer. The People Report provides workforce data to support strategic decision making. Dan Paul also authorised the HR Policies report, which sets out changes to HR policies to ensure they are in line with best practice and legal requirements. The committee also included Councillors Liam Carroll, Dawn Barnes, Ruairidh Paton, and Ibrahim Ali.
While the proportion of agency workers has decreased, the People Report does not specify a target percentage or a timeline for achieving a specific target.