Sutton Council has succeeded in cutting how much it is spending on temporary staff - but is still set to spend £7m on agency workers this year.

Sutton Council spent £42m of taxpayers money on temporary staff between 2008 and 2012.

In August 2011, executive head of human resources at the council Dean Shoesmith, said the council must cut the amount spent on temporary staff as part of a £30m savings across the council.

A Freedom of Information request has found that between April 2011 and April 2012, the council spent £7.6m on locums.

The projected figure for the same period this year is £7m. Councillor Colin Hall, deputy leader of the council, said: "Sutton Council has taken active steps to reduce costs in the procurement of temporary agency workers. "

"As part of reviewing our agency placements we have identified positions where such workers are critical and ensured that only these positions are filled."

"As can been seen over the last four years the council has taken action to reduce agency worker costs."