Agenda item

The Committee received an update on the Temporary Agency Staff contract with Matrix and the progress that was being made reduce agency staff.

The annual spend was £6.5m which was gradually reducing, taking into account the transfer of staff back to the Council.  In response to a query from Members at the last meeting about the position in the Wellbeing Directorate, it was confirmed that there had been a restructure of Adult Social Care and 18 staff had moved from temporary to permanent staff.  It was noted that the Matrix contract had been extended by a year to provide time to assess the progress made in reducing agency staff and consider the best options for future arrangements.

Members discussed the management actions in place to continue to address concerns about agency spend and asked a number of specific questions which were responded to.  The position regarding agency staff in education was raised and it was agreed that the next report to the Committee in October would include an update on the progress of recruiting more permanent staff in Education & Children’s Services following the transfer from Cambridge Education.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the report was noted.

Resolved –

(a)  That the report be noted.

(b)  That the next report include an update on progress on the recruitment of permanent staff in Education & Children’s Services following the transfer from Cambridge Education.