‘Clear waste’: Council spends £31m on consultants and agency staff

A council spent £31million on consultants and agency staff in the past 10 months, a jump of more than £6million from the same period last year.

Figures revealed by Southwark Liberal Democrats show that Labour-run Southwark council has spent £2million on consultants since April 2024, up 18 per cent from the £1.7million spent in the same period the year before.

The data also shows a 26 per cent increase on agency workers spending, costing the council £29million since April 2024, up from £23.1million. 

Cllr Victor Chamberlain, Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition said: “When money is tight for so many families, the council must spend wisely. 

“So often in councils, much that goes wrong can be blamed on the national Government. But here in Southwark there is clear waste that is typical of a Labour council.”

According to the council, around 88 per cent of the jump in consultancy spend relates to outsourced services to support the council’s new finance, procurement, business IT and HR system and is fully budgeted through a specific reserve.

A spokesman said: “As this project is something which is very infrequent, we do not have permanent staff assigned to it. Experts are recruited as needed in this case.”

But, according to Southwark Liberal Democrats, consultants have also been hired by the council to advise on schemes including Southwark 2030 and its school closures programme.

Councillor Stephanie Cryan, cabinet member for equalities, democracy and finance, said: “We’re committed to permanently employing staff, and bringing services back in house wherever possible – the vast majority of our workforce is in-house. 

“Occasionally we need to bring in consultants to help with specific projects that need specific technical knowledge or expertise. 

“We regularly review spending on consultants, working to keep it as low as possible and ensure that any work where we consult on has a positive outcome for our residents, with their priorities at its heart”.

Pictured top: Southwark Council hq in Tooley Street (Picture: Google Street View)