Havering Council faces a financial challenge: despite a decrease in the percentage of agency workers, spending on them has increased, according to a recent Overview & Scrutiny Board meeting. The board reviewed corporate HR metrics, with a focus on agency workers and sickness absence. The council's figures are slightly off the London average target of 12% for agency workers in the total corporate workforce, with Havering reporting 14.2% in May's figures.
The Corporate HR Metrics Report revealed that the percentage of agency workers in the total corporate workforce fell from 17.3% on 31 October 2024 to 14.7% on 30 April 2025. Despite this reduction, spending on agency workers has risen due to pay rises linked to the 2024/25 pay award for Matrix Agency Workers.
The report also included a breakdown of the reasons for engaging agency workers, with the most significant driver being cover for vacant posts. The report notes that Starting Well has seen an increase in agency workers because of the Ofsted inspection continued improvement plan. The council is now focusing on converting agency workers with over two years of service in Resources, People, and Place directorates into permanent contracts within six months. They also continue their focus on those earning £75,000 plus.
Councillor Patel inquired about the actions taken to reduce reliance on agency workers and the timeline for converting long-term agency staff. The response indicated a focus on agency workers over 75k and those with over two years of service, with directors actively reviewing their agency staff lists.
It was also noted that the agency workers data and management will be moving over to procurement, with the head of procurement supplying any agency reports going forward.
Councillor Taylor asked about bringing roles in-house versus bringing a person in-house, and whether the council was retaining the person or just the role. The response indicated that in most cases, the council is retaining the person in the pre-existing role.