Wandsworth and Richmond councils are spending a combined £15m a year on temporary staff, figures have revealed.

A report on the agency staff contract, run jointly between Richmond and Wandsworth councils, shows spend is approximately £6m and £10m respectively, on average for a year.

In 2011, the council spent £7.2m with Comensura, but in 2014, it fell to £5.7m with Adecco.

As part of a collaboration on staffing between the two councils, the temporary staffing contract is up for renewal, with various methods being considered by the cabinet for performance and community safety.

The Richmond council report said: “The councils’ buyer power is significantly increased through combined purchasing with other contracting authorities, due to more favourable rates and efficiencies in contract management.

“It is recommended therefore that Richmond and Wandsworth source a single provider for a temporary staff agency contract for a single managed service provider.”

Currently, recruitment agency Adecco works as a “master vendor”, filling as many roles as possible from its own pool of candidates before it goes to its supply chain for further vacancies.

This method has reduced spend on agency staff by about 25 per cent since 2011, but spend on specialist roles such as special education needs workers, has increased.

It is thought the contract will be in place for two years, with the ability to extend for a further two years.