South Wales Evening Post - 2 March 2009
More than a million pounds has been shelled out for temporary workers at Swansea Council in just nine months.
The authority paid two employment agencies £1,007,725 between April and December last year.
The figures have emerged following a request from the Evening Post under the Freedom of Information Act.
A council spokesman said the authority would, at times, need to bring in agency staff.
He said: "For Swansea Council, as with other public bodies and businesses, the ability to engage agency workers in certain circumstances, or until the full complement of staff can be restored, is essential.
"On occasions, the authority experiences pressure and difficulty in providing adequate levels of service to service users and in meeting statutory obligations.
"Therefore, in order to comply with statutory responsibilities and to meet the demands of the service, the local authority will engage agency workers in certain circumstances."
Swansea Council uses two employment agencies — RSD Technology and Select.
Between April and December last year the authority paid RSD Technology £459,293.06 and Select £548,432.41.
The total figure is just below three per cent of the council's annual employee costs. The council spokesman added that circumstances relating to skills and/or personnel shortages in service areas can arise as a result of turnover of staff, difficulties in filling posts and covering for sickness absence and annual leave.
He said: "Agency staff are used to the advantage of vital, front line services that are in high demand, for example social services and environment departments.
"As with many large organisations, the authority and its service users also benefit from the flexibility that agency cover can provide to cover short term pressures or skill shortages.
"The use of agency staff is regularly reviewed to ensure that those employed are an asset to the authority and vital to service delivery.
"The council also works with agencies to ensure the cost of employing agency staff is kept to a minimum.
"In fact, the usage of agency staff for short term assignments has proved beneficial on all occasions from a cost perspective."
Last week, Swansea Council approved its budget for the next year and in doing so confirmed plans to cut 500 jobs in the next three years.
Council leader Chris Holley said that it was "more than likely" that agency jobs would be the first to go.
But he added: "I can't say definitely, because I don't know where the agency staff are."
