THURROCK Council is under pressure to slash its spending on agency staff after figures revealed it has already spent £8.4 million in the first half of the financial year—despite a target to reduce costs to £10 million by March.

Last year, the council spent £16.3 million on temporary workers, but a corporate performance report shows progress toward savings has been slow. The latest report, covering April to September, highlights ongoing difficulties in attracting permanent staff due to market conditions, location, and salary competitiveness.

The report highlights agency spending of £1.2m between August and September. A previous Nub News report featured an update in October shopwing that spiralling costs and expected budget were effectively out of control.

The council currently relies heavily on agency workers to fill critical roles, particularly in planning and social care. At the end of the second quarter, the agency headcount stood at 236, equivalent to an average of 185 full-time roles. Officials say efforts are underway to reduce this number, including recruitment events aimed at encouraging social workers to switch to permanent contracts.

The report also notes that posts linked to the Local Government Reorganisation project are expected to remain agency-based, reflecting the need for flexibility during a period of significant change. Thurrock is among councils preparing for major restructuring as part of Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Essex.

A council spokesperson said: "As the report shows, resourcing requirements, including the deployment of agency workers, are being managed within the overall staffing envelope, which is forecast to come in on budget.

"The Council is working to make important savings and will be undergoing significant change as a result of Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Essex. This requires an agile approach to resourcing, maximising the benefits of different contractual arrangements, including permanent appointments, contingency labour, fixed-term contracts and secondments."

Local authorities across the country face similar challenges, with high turnover and recruitment difficulties driving reliance on temporary staff. While councils aim to reduce agency costs by hiring more permanent employees, temporary workers remain essential to maintain services during periods of transformation.