A REVIEW into agency staff is underway after an Echo investigation revealed a temporary worker at Dorset County Council earned more than the chief executive.

Councillors are being asked to examine arrangements for temporary staff while future appointments will be scrutinised closely.

Lib Dem opposition leader Janet Dover said it was a ‘wake-up call’ for the authority, which had been moved to act in light of revelations.

A Freedom of Information request by the Echo last month found a temporary worker employed through an agency to work on an IT project cost £167,000 in one year – £20,000 more than chief executive David Jenkins earned.

Since then, the Echo has obtained a list of other high earning agency staff for DCC who cost almost £1.3million.

The 10 high earners cost £356,126 in 2009/10, £564,123 in 2010/11 and £375,044 in 2011/12.

They include a person brought in to design traffic signals for the Weymouth Transport Package who cost £96,194 in 2009/ 10 and £59,808 in 2010/11.

Someone recruited to manage the transport package cost £212,445 over three years.

Coun Dover said: “The amounts are significant and I will be asking the council to justify these positions. Was there someone in-house who could’ve done the job?”

She has made it a priority to ask about agency staff and has discussed it with David Jenkins.

Mr Jenkins explained in a letter the IT worker was employed for longer than initially thought and arrangements have since been put in place regarding agency staff.

He has also asked for a report to be drawn up detailing “arrangements for engaging consultant and agency staff in order that members may review them.”

Coun Dover said: “The Echo story has raised concerns as to just what is happening. It has to be asked why we are employing agency staff. What processes are in place and is the amount spent justified.

“Agency staff are necessary as long as the business case is water-tight. The most important thing is you don’t have a member of staff who can do the job in-house.”

She said Mr Jenkins has suggested future staff monitoring reports also include information about agency staff.

Coun Dover said: “This is a wake-up call for the council.

“If they scrutinise the figures and the rationale behind them, it has to be a good thing.

“It’s openness and making sure the public get value for money. It’s even more important in times of restraint.”

Branch Secretary of the Dorset branch of Union Pamela Jefferies said: “We’re not happy about the amount of money being wasted when money is so tight.”

CHIEF EXECUTIVE LOOKS INTO EXPENDITURE

CHIEF executive of Dorset County Council David Jenkins said: “We are currently reviewing all areas of expenditure, which includes the use of agency staff.

“While the county council employs a highly-skilled and dedicated workforce, there are occasions when it is necessary to use agency workers.

“This can be because specialist skills are required for a particular fixed-term project, where there are recruitment difficulties, when short term cover needs to be made in certain areas, or when frontline services need to be maintained for safety reasons.

“We have been reducing our employed staff numbers as part of our savings programme and procedures are in place to make sure agency workers are only used when it is essential.

“There has been an 18 per cent reduction in costs of using agency workers between the financial years of 2010/11 and 2011/12.

“Elected members will be receiving a report on the use of contract workers, including those employed through agencies, in July.”