SCOTTISH Borders Council reduced its spending on employment agency staff in the last financial year.

Councillor Michael Cook, executive member for human resources, said the spend in 2013/14 was £1.113million – down from £1.127million the previous year.

He was responding to a question from Tory councillor Simon Mountford (Kelso & District) who wanted to know the average duration of agency staff employment.

“All agency employees are paid through invoice so the actual duration of their contract is not recorded,” said Mr Cook.

Scottish Borders Council has 5,500 employees and a total annual wage bill of £150million, accounting for around half its total annual revenue spending.