Harrow Council is currently spending approximately £1 million per week on agency staff, a figure that has contributed to an overspend in environment services.
During a question and answer session with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Paul Osborn, Leader of the Council, and Managing Director Alex acknowledged the significant expenditure on agency staff. They explained that agency staff are often essential for maintaining service continuity, particularly when covering for staff absences, holidays, or during periods of transition. This reliance is especially pronounced in frontline services, where higher sickness absence is naturally expected.
The council is implementing more robust sickness management policies to reduce overall absence, which currently stands at an average of 14 days per employee. The aim is to bring this figure closer to the ideal range of 8 to 10 days per employee. This approach is intended to mitigate the double cost of paying for both sick pay and agency cover.
The current high expenditure on agency staff has contributed to an overspend in environment services. The council is also reviewing staff numbers above establishment to identify potential savings.
Further details on the committee's discussions can be found in the Public reports pack.
