Labour-run Nottingham City Council is being forced to spend £78,000 over what it had budgeted following a failed recruitment drive. The cash will be used to fund "urgent agency support" for a couple of roles related to buildings and construction work.
It is estimated two roles will cost £130,000 for roughly six months work, which is around £78,000 over budget. The council is in need of building control surveyors, who are employed to work with architects, builders and engineers to make sure a project is cost effective, while also conducting other important tasks such as inspections and surveys of unsafe buildings and newbuilds.
The council says: "The building control service has two principal building control surveyors, who undertake the more complex building control duties for larger residential and non residential buildings. One has recently retired and the other has left the authority.
Read more: 29 council employees paid over £100,000
"There are also other vacancies at a lower level within the team. A recent recruitment process for the principal role did not attract any candidates, and a market supplement also failed to attract suitable candidates.
"Building control is a statutory duty, and the service is unviable without urgent support. The structural integrity and fire safety of new buildings are a key part of the service provision.
"Two agency posts are required, to ensure service continuity prior to further recruitment. Support is required for up to six months, to allow sufficient time for permanent recruitment and appointment. Two agency officers have now been recruited, but the cost exceeds the previous estimate."
This comes as the authority faces further Government intervention in the form of commissioners. Upon the collapse of Robin Hood Energy it had been under watch, and its own progress towards financial stability has, upon the discovery of more problems of the past, seemingly failed to appease the Government.
The council had been paying out for various very costly external support roles, primarily because it has inadequate internal skills within its workforce, to help guide it towards cultural change and balance its books. A tough labour market following the coronavirus pandemic and the council's reputation has also led to issues in recruitment.
What now lies ahead is uncertain at this time, but the Government says its position remains the same, in that it is minded to send in commissioners to take control of some operations. The council has since submitted its reasons as to why this should be avoided.
According to council documents the latest overspend will not have an adverse impact on its financial plans however. It added: "The service generates sufficient fees to fund the gap between the salary budget available from vacancies and the cost of this agency staff and the need for these staff is recognised.
"The proposal will not add financial pressure to the [Medium Term Financial Plan] and can be contained within the planning service and is supported. This will be monitored by the service for any variance and reflected in the monthly forecast for the service."
READ MORE:
