Lambeth Council spent more than £108 million on agency staff in the past four years. 

A freedom of information request showed that the cash shelled out for the temporary workers increased every year from 2017. 

The council spent £31 million in 2019, up from £24.2 million in 2017, £25 million in 2016 and £28.4 million in 2018.  

Agency staff cost more than permanent staff, while a lot of the money goes to private companies. 

“Deep Government cuts”  have led to this situation, according to the council.

The figures come after a report on children’s services in January revealed the council had been forced to use a high number of agency workers after failing to hire permanent staff.  

It cited offering smaller pay packets compared to other councils as one of the problems.  

The report included plans to turn the situation around by making Lambeth’s social care department a more attractive place to work.  

They include extra training, events and forums for staff, better career progression, as well as offering advanced practitioner roles. 

Lambeth spent more than £30 million on agency staff for children’s social care between 2016 and 2019, although the amount decreased each year except for a small increase last year.  

In 2019 the council spent £6.9 million on agency staff for children’s services, £6.5 million in 2018, £7.9 million in 2017, and £9.4 million in 2016. 

A council spokesperson said: “Lambeth Council’s total grant from Government has been cut by more than 50 per cent over the last decade.  

“As a result, the council has had to reduce its workforce dramatically, and change the way it delivers many essential services, all while demand continues to increase. 

“During this period to cope with such deep cuts, and to ensure we can maintain front-line services, it has been necessary on occasions to use agency staff to temporarily provide essential public services or bridge gaps in permanent recruitment.  

“Further the council has needed to significantly invest in temporary workers for the Lambeth Children’s Homes Redress Scheme which opened on Jan 1, 2018. 

“The council is working extremely hard to reduce agency spend across the board, while continuing to lobbying the government to properly fund local authorities.”