Agency Workers
Merton Council has significantly reduced agency worker spending, while Brent Council invests in social care staff retention to reduce reliance on temporary staff.
Merton Council reduced its spending on agency workers, who are employees hired through a third-party staffing agency, by nearly £1 million in the first six months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, with total expenditure at £8.4 million, according to a September 2026 story. In July 2026, Brent Council approved a £500,000 annual investment to continue recruitment and retention payments for social care staff, aiming to reduce reliance on temporary staff.
Brent Council's payments include a £5,000 "golden hello" for new recruits and £3,000 annual retention payments for social workers, occupational therapists, and visual impairment rehabilitation officers. These measures, in place since November 2023, have been credited with reducing agency staff usage. Havering Council is also exploring establishing an in-house agency to recruit local residents for council roles, a proposal discussed by its Overview & Scrutiny Board in March 2026.
This initiative by Havering Council follows a 22.7% decrease in agency worker expenditure for the last three months of 2025 compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, Harrow Council was spending approximately £1 million per week on agency staff in January 2026, with agency staff often essential for maintaining service continuity, particularly in frontline services. Bexley Council's apprenticeship drive was praised in March 2026 as a way to create career pathways.
Key facts
- Merton Council's total spending on contingency and agency staff was £8.4 million between January and June 2026. Source
- Merton Council's agency worker spending fell by nearly £1 million in the first six months of 2026 compared to 2025. Source
- Brent Council approved a £500,000 annual investment for social care staff retention and recruitment in July 2026. Source 1 Source 2
- Brent Council offers a £5,000 golden hello for new social care recruits and annual retention payments of £3,000. Source
- Harrow Council was spending approximately £1 million per week on agency staff in January 2026. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.