Folkestone & Hythe District Council’s spending on temporary staff has fallen below £1 million for the first time in three years, marking a significant shift in how the authority is managing its workforce.
According to newly published figures, the Council spent £853,699 on temporary staffing in 2024/25 — a 40% drop from the previous year’s total of £1.43 million. This brings expenditure to its lowest point since 2018/19, when it stood at £749,652.
It is important to note that the totals for both 2023/24 and 2024/25 include the salary costs for the former Interim Section 151 Officer, a statutory officer — S151 officers are rarer than hen’s teeth.
The council’s reliance on temporary staff has historically fluctuated, peaking in 2022/23 at £1.66 million, more than double the level recorded this year. The sharp decline in 2024/25 suggests a concerted effort by the council to rein in costs after several years of volatile and often high spending in this category.
A year-by-year breakdown of temporary staff expenditure reveals a pattern of spikes and retrenchment:
This year’s figure is the lowest in six years and marks only the third time since 2016/17 that temporary staffing costs have fallen below the £1 million threshold.
Top Suppliers in 2024/25
A breakdown of the year’s temporary staffing costs by supplier reveals the following:
This breakdown allows for greater scrutiny over the council’s procurement and recruitment strategies. The wide range of suppliers also shows the complexity involved in resourcing key positions — both specialist and general — through the temporary staffing market.
Whether the Council can maintain this downward trajectory remains to be seen. However, the sharp reduction this year may signal a shift toward more stable workforce planning and improved financial discipline at a time of increasing pressure on local government budgets.
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The Shepway Vox Team
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