Agenda item

            That the Committee recognises the position of the Council as an employer in using agency workers sparingly and appropriately.   

The Senior Manager – Human Resources and Organisational Development introduced a report to provide Members with a detailed overview of the use of Agency Workers and associated costs. 

                        The report had been prepared following a request for further information at the previous meeting of the Committee.  The Senior Manager advised that the appendix to the report provided details of the costs associated with agency placements. 

                        Councillor Paul Shotton thanked the officers for the information and said that there would always be a requirement for the use of agency workers particularly in Social Services and Streetscene.  The Chairman sought clarification on the figures in the appendix, particularly on Council comparative costs against the Agency Worker Regulations pay rates as it appeared that it was more cost effective to employ agency staff rather than permanent employees.  The Senior Manager spoke of the risks that would be associated with only employing agency staff and commented on the liability issues once they had been employed for more than 11 weeks.  She provided an explanation on the rates in the appendix that attracted an overtime premium and those that did not.  The Chief Executive confirmed that agency workers were only used in a small number of areas of the Council and that it would not be sustainable to only employ agency workers; he added that this would also be challenged by the Trade Unions. 

                        Councillor Aaron Shotton spoke of previous discussions on agency workers where it had been suggested that this was an expensive way of employing staff, but the figures did not seem to reflect that.  However, he added that ethically, it was better to employ permanent staff to continue the quality of service and ensure loyalty. 

                        Following a comment from the Chairman, the Senior Manager provided a detailed explanation of the figures shown in the appendix to the report and the Chief Executive added that the agency was not paid to meet employer pension costs.  In response to a query from the Chairman about some of the figures in the appendix particularly for the Day Care Assistant and the Household Recycling Centre Assistant, the Senior Manager said that she would seek clarification on the figures.  Councillor Richard Jones referred to the moral rather than financial issue and concurred that it was better to employ permanent staff rather than agency workers.  Councillor Ian Smith also asked about the figures for Catering Assistants which were reported to be £7.20 per hour for weeks 1 to 11 and reducing to £6.44 from week 12.  The Senior Manager advised that this could be because the data had not been updated but added that she would seek clarification. 

                        Councillor Arnold Woolley welcomed the reduction in levels of agency staff use to a more appropriate and acceptable level but queried whether such a change could have been put in place sooner, as the issue of the use of agency workers had first been challenged in 2006.  The Chief Executive concurred but commented on Flintshire being the first authority to work with other authorities to put the Matrix contract in place for the provision of agency workers which had helped to reduce costs.  Councillor Woolley felt that the Council would always need some agency workers.

                        In referring to the recommendation, the Chair suggested that the word ‘review’ be replaced with the word ‘recognises’.  This was proposed by Councillor Paul Shotton and duly seconded.

            RESOLVED:

            That the Committee recognises the position of the Council as an employer in using agency workers sparingly and appropriately.