CORNWALL Council spent more than £1million on temporary executives over the past two years, with some being paid more than £800 a day.

New figures released by the council show that in 2017/18 the authority spent £642,813.85 on 23 interim executives.

That was an increase on the previous year when the council spent £522,461.90 on 10 interim chiefs. In 2015/16 the amount spent was much lower at £171,728.48 on five staff.

The figures for spending on the interim top posts have been revealed in a response to a freedom of information request submitted to the council.

It also shows that, of the interims hired by the council in 2017/18, six were paid a daily rate of more than £801. Five of them received between £651 and £800 a day while 12 were paid between £500 and £650 a day.

The daily rates being paid to interim executives has risen over the past three years with just one getting a daily rate of £801 or more in 2016/17 and none in 2015/16.

Details of the high spending come despite the council having indicated in recent years that it wanted to cut the use of consultants and spending on temporary staff.

Councillor Julian German, deputy leader of the council who is responsible for resources, said: “The numbers are relatively small when you consider that we are an organisation of over 5,000 employees. We are talking about a small number of interims.”

Cllr German said that from time to time interim staff would be brought in to cover sickness or to assist with particularl projects.

He said: “We need services to continue to be delivered and someone could be off for a very good reason for six months and we need that service to continue so we will bring someone in to cover.

“In other cases we will need a specific skillset to deliver a particular project. Around the investment programme, for example, we wil need some skills that we either don’t have or would not need on an ongoing, permanent basis so it makes sense to take someone on on a temporary basis. Although it is a lot of money it is cheaper than employing someone long term.”

When asked about the council’s ambition to reduce spending on temporary staff Cllr German said: “I don’t think it would be realistic to say we won’t have any as issues arise, but we are always looking at reducing the spend in this area.”