Folkestone & Hythe District Council have spent an nearly half a million pounds on temporary staff in the first quarter of the financial year 2023/24.
According to their published data, in the first quarter (April – June) they have spent £471,312. This is 42% more than they spent in the previous year first quarter
If such levels of spending continues over the next nine months, this would set a new record for spending on temporary staff once again.
Under Dr Susan Priest’s (pictured) leadership, the million pound mark for spend on temporary staff has been broken three times, since she became Head of Paid Service & Chief Executive on 1 April 2018. In 2022/23 the council spent nearly £1.7m on temporary staff, the highest amount ever.
Given the Council has a deficit of £16m over the next four years, surely it would be wise and prudent for the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Sub-Committee, to look at the issue of temporary staff spend, to see if anything can be done about the council addiction to temporary staff.
Lets not forget section 3(1) of the Local Government Act 1999, imposes a requirement on all local authorities to deliver what is termed “best value” – it states:
A best value authority must make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the way in which its functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
Given the escalating costs for temporary staff, are you as the local ratepayer receiving “best value“?
We’ll leave you to think about that.
The Shepway Vox Team
The Velvet Voices of Voxatiousness
