Oldham Council spends more than £56 million on agency staff in four years

Shocking figures uncovered by Oldham Liberal Democrats show that Oldham Council has spent a staggering £56 million and counting on agency workers since 2021.

Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrats councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “It’s been clear for a long time now that this Council is struggling with recruitment and retention of staff across a range of services.  That means that agency staff get brought in to fill the gaps but it’s costing taxpayers more money.

“£56 million over four years is an eyewatering sum.  The Labour run Council needs to look at which agency workers can be made permanent and where we can be recruiting locally.

“If there is a job of work to be done and the cash to pay for it these should be permanent jobs for local people,” added councillor Sykes.  “Where is the plan to tackle this – simple answer - there is not one but there should be!

“Permanent staff are the backbone of services that perform well.  At the moment Oldham Council is spending more money for short-term staffing solutions and that hurts the standard of services residents receive at the same time as hurting council taxpayers in the pocket.

“Oldham Council’s focus should be to provide good permanent jobs for local families.  They need to get a grip of this situation before inflation and government tax hikes on things like National Insurance Contributions push our costs even higher.”