A south London council has splurged £31 million on consultants and agency staff in less than 10 months — £6.2 million more than it did over the same period last year. Figures uncovered by Southwark Liberal Democrats show that Southwark Council has spent £2 million on consultants alone since April 2024, an increase of £300,000 on the comparable 10-month period the previous year. The other £29million was spent on agency staff, highlighting the high cost of filling roles with temporary staff.
Councillor Victor Chamberlain, Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader, branded the six-digit sums spent on consultants ‘a waste of money’. He said: “When money is tight for so many families, the council must spend wisely. Here in Southwark there is clear waste that is typical of a Labour council. Liberal Democrats would prioritise investing in frontline services and community projects, not wasting millions on consultants.”.
But Cllr Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Equalities, Democracy and Finance, defended the council’s use of outsourcing, saying consultants were essential for projects where ‘specific technical knowledge or expertise’ was needed. She added: “We’re committed to permanently employing staff, and bringing services back in house wherever possible — the vast majority of our workforce is in-house.
