Decision details

Matter for Decision

      i.          Temporary agency workers are used to ensure service delivery including; covering short term demands, for specific projects, managing peaks and troughs of service volumes, for seasonal work, whilst undertaking service reviews, covering the recruitment period for a vacant post, maternity or sickness.

     ii.          A large volume of temporary agency workers (around 200 in 2023) are engaged for a short period for the Folk Festival.

   iii.          The Council currently uses a national framework contract created specifically to enable ease of procurement of agency workers, MSTAR3. Under this contract one provider takes responsibility for delivering services on behalf of the Council, currently engaging 67 individual agency suppliers. The alternative would be for the council to manage contracts with individual agencies.

   iv.          It is anticipated that the Council will continue to need temporary agency cover on an ad hoc basis in order to ensure appropriate continuity in service delivery and the report presents a recommended option for the future provision of temporary agency worker services with effect from 20 December 2023.

    v.          The report seeks approval to procure the services of a temporary agency worker provider under the MSTAR4 framework contract with effect from 20 December 2023.

Decision of the Executive Councillor for Finance & Resources:

To delegate authority to the Head of Human Resources, following agreement by the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources, to procure a Managed Service Provider for the provision of temporary agency workers through the national Managed Services for Temporary Agency Resources (MSTAR4) framework, with effect from 20 December 2023.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Head of Human Resources introduced the report.

The Committee unanimously endorsed the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.