Agenda item

That authority to commence the procurement process for the provision of a Temporary Labour Contract, following the approval of the procurement forward plan submitted to April 2023 Cabinet, be confirmed.

The Cabinet considered a report that sought approval to commence the procurement process for a contract to supply temporary labour to the Council.

The current contract for temporary labour was due to expire on 24^th March 2024 and a new contract was required to ensure there was no disruption to the provision of temporary staff.  The Council was seeking to reduce spend on temporary workers, however, it did need a contract in place to ensure it had access to temporary labour to deliver projects which required specialist skills and experience as well as for roles where there were national skills shortages.  The advantages of a contract included cost, efficiencies and access to a wider pool of workers with specialist expertise.  The total value of the current contract for temporary labour was expected to exceed £70m over four years although the levels of agency spend should reduce over time as many areas were now able to recruit permanently to posts where appropriate.  The contract had been included in the contracts list approved by Cabinet in April 2023 to be tendered in 2023/24, but this further detailed report was being brought to Cabinet due to the size of the contract.

Councillor Matloob was invited to address the Cabinet and he asked how the new contract would fulfil the new administration’s election pledge to cut temporary agency staff by at least 30%.  The Lead Member for HR confirmed that the Cabinet was committed to reducing the annual spend, which was currently circa £21m, and the Cabinet considered this to be too high.  It was important to have a contract in place to access temporary labour to meet business needs, but Lead Members would be working with their Executive Directors to reduce the level of spend under the contract and bring it back under control.

After due consideration the Cabinet agreed the commencement of a procurement process for the provision of temporary labour.

Resolved –  That authority to commence the procurement process for the provision of a Temporary Labour Contract, following the approval of the procurement forward plan submitted to April 2023 Cabinet, be confirmed.