The GMB Union has called on UK local authorities to reduce their spending on agency and temps, after it discovered 353 councils in the UK spent £1.1bn on temporary staff.

GMB national secretary Brian Strutton said: “GMB members working in public services are rightly appalled at the waste of money as a result of management’s failure to put in place adequate levels of permanent staff.”

The GMB’s study, using data provided by council’s under the Freedom of Information Act, found Birmingham tops the league of agency spending with £51.5m. Ealing Council was second with £44.3m, followed by Southwark with £40m.

The London boroughs spend £451.3m, south east council’s spend £115.9m, Scottish councils £114.5m, the West Midlands £100m and the Yorkshire & Humberside council spent £92.2m.

Ten councils have refused to supply GMB with the data and a further 68, including Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham and Dundee, have not yet replied.