HS2 blamed for Dudley Council's difficulty recruiting officers

A meeting of the authority’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee on January 26 was debating an overspend of £1.2m in the resources and financial strategy department of the Core Business Group.

The overspend was blamed on staffing pressures in the revenue and benefits team and the use of interim staff to provide specialist financial support.

Councillor Steve Clark, Dudley Council cabinet member for resources, told committee members the council had been spending ‘more than we should’ on interim staff and was looking to recruit permanent accountants after a review from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).

Councillor Clark said: “Interims are a short-term fix, the CIPFA review ensures our structures are fit for purpose, that is vital for us making the council an attractive place for permanent high-calibre professionals to build their careers.

“Interims are too high a cost for us to bear in the long-term.”

Councillor Pete Lowe asked if the expectation was to see a significant reduction in spending on temporary staff.

Balvinder Heran, Dudley Council’s chief executive, said the authority was looking to train its own staff in careers like social care and as solicitors.

Ms Heran added: “Also, are we competitive in the market for roles like building surveyors or quantity surveyors?

“Major projects like HS2 have put a call on those resources, all councils in the West Midlands have been challenged to keep recruiting those.

“The market is really stretched with that capability so you have to think outside the box and go through other means.”

Councillor Clark warned that, despite a balanced budget for the new 2026/27 financial year, funding gaps were predicted in future years and the council needed to keep a strong grip on everything it did.

He added: “The intention is to move to a stable, permanent workforce and reduce our reliance on interim appointments.”