Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People)

The Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Resources considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) which provided information on the use of agency workers procured for the Q3 period 2018/2019.

Coventry City Council has a Master Vendor Contract with Reed for the supply of agency workers which came into effect on 25^th June, 2018. Through the contract, Reed would supply all suitable agency workers either through their own agency or via a second tier arrangement with other agencies, using rates of pay based on an agreed pay policy and a negotiated mark-up rate with the Master Vendor. The information supplied by Reed gives detailed information on agency worker usage and expenditure. Spend is based on timesheets paid during the quarter and is in essence the same process reported by Pertemps previously

It was noted that Reed is not always able to supply the required agency workers and where this was the case, service areas would use other suppliers.

The report showed that overall cumulative spend on agency workers with both Reed and outside Reed had decreased by just over £81,000.

The comparative expenditure figures for the Master Vendor Contract between Q2 2018/2019 and Q3 2019/19 as well as Q3 2017/18 and Q2 2018/19 were detailed in table 2.2 of the report. These indicated that there had been an overall decrease of £77,085 in spend between Q2 and Q3 2018/19 and an increase of £150,428 compared to the same quarter in 2017/18. The Master Vendor Contract covered all agency workers required by the Council, the Reed contract does not cover agency workers in schools.

With regard to spend outside of the Reed contract, the report showed that there has been an overall decrease in spend of £4,455 between Q2 and Q3 2018/19 as well a decrease of £634,397 compared to the same quarter Q3 2017/18. 

The report provided information on the main areas that contributed to the agency spend within the directorates, noting that some of it was to cover statutory duties and some was to cover vacancies that were in the process of being recruited to. A breakdown of spend within each Directorate was detailed in the report. 

With regard to Waste Services, the report stated that during the Christmas and New Year period, the need for additional operatives was greater than the casual pool could supply, therefore, collectors and HGV drivers were sourced through the agency.

The Cabinet Member reiterated his commitment to reducing the need for agency staff. He expressed disappointment with the problems that occurred with waste operatives over the Christmas period and requested that a briefing note explaining the situation be emailed to him at the earliest opportunity.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Resources:

1.  Notes the agency/interim spend for Q3 2018/19.

2.  Notes the cumulative spend for both agency workers via Reed and outside Reed (Table 2.1)

3.  Notes the upward trajectory of permanent filled jobs in Children Services (Appendix 1)

4.  Requests Directors to submit a report to the first Cabinet Member meeting in the New Municipal Year outlining what steps are being taken to reduce the need for agency spend within their Directorates.