Key Points
- Overall Financial Impact: Staff sickness and temporary agency cover combined to cost Bolton Council more than £22.2 million over the past year.
- Rising Sickness Bill: The total expense for employee sickness reached £6,432,888, marking an increase of £896,056 (16.19 per cent) compared to the previous year.
- Agency Staff Expenses: Agency worker fees climbed to £15,806,353 to plug staffing gaps across local authority services.
- Children’s Services Pressure: Sickness within Children’s Services recorded £1,409,084, alongside £4,951,289 spent on agency cover. The division is currently facing an overall budget overspend of £19.9 million.
- Political Backlash: Opposition Conservative Group Leader Councillor Nadim Muslim branded the numbers "astonishing" and equated the sickness budget to a maximum 4.99 per cent council tax increase.
- Key Drivers: Council officers highlighted complex long-term medical conditions, mental health issues, musculoskeletal disorders, and an ageing workforce as major factors behind rising absences.
Bolton (Bolton Today) August 20, 2026 – Staff sickness and reliance on agency workers have driven Bolton Council’s workforce bill above £22.2 million over the past year, according to figures scrutinised by local politicians. Official data reveals that employee ill health cost the local authority £6,432,888—an increase of £896,056, or 16.19 per cent, on the previous year’s figures. To maintain basic service levels, the council spent an additional £15,806,353 on agency workers, bringing the combined expenditure to £22,239,241. The revelations were presented during a meeting of the council’s Corporate and External Issues Scrutiny Committee, triggering immediate political fallout and calls for an urgent review of health and intervention policies across municipal departments.
What Caused the Sudden Surge in Sickness Costs at Bolton Council?
As reported by reporter Joe Regent of The Bolton News, official financial disclosures show a substantial year-on-year jump in the local authority’s sickness expenditure. Town Hall chiefs noted that while overall employee health remains a priority, several complex factors have pushed total absences higher.
As detailed in the report covered by Joe Regent of The Bolton News, Lee Fallows, the corporate resources director at Bolton Council, explained to committee members that severe health conditions were heavily influencing the statistics. Lee Fallows stated:
"It has gone up, but in the last 12 months we've been dealing with some complex medical conditions that are unfortunate and could happen to anyone."
According to findings detailed by Joe Regent of The Bolton News, the municipality identified several primary drivers for long-term absence:
- A small number of complex, long-term sickness cases accounting for a disproportionate number of lost working days across departments.
- Stress-related absences and mental health conditions affecting staff resilience.
- Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders impacting physical capabilities.
- Operational challenges linked to an ageing municipal workforce.
- External healthcare delays in accessing prompt medical interventions and treatments.
The concentration of severe absences within small teams has created severe strain on frontline operations, forcing reliance on temporary replacements.
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How Did Local Politicians React to the £22m Bill?
The financial disclosures generated fierce debate inside the council chamber between opposing political parties.
As reported by Joe Regent of The Bolton News, Councillor Nadim Muslim, leader of the Conservative group on Bolton Council, launched a critical attack on the local authority's administration. Councillor Nadim Muslim stated:
"These figures are astonishing to read. The fact that the entire staff sickness budget is the equivalent of raising council tax by the maximum 4.99 per cent shows how badly Labour are running the council."
In response, administration representatives urged a measured approach focused on staff welfare and proper occupational assessment.
As documented by Joe Regent of The Bolton News, Councillor Martin Donaghy, Deputy Leader of Bolton Council, acknowledged the severity of the numbers while requesting further detailed reports. Councillor Martin Donaghy stated:
"The sickness levels are worrying, and I've said this to the officers. I'd like to see a further report come back here to say what the employee systems programme is doing, what's occupational health doing, is it making a difference here and is there other tools available."
Councillor Martin Donaghy noted that he required deeper analysis of the underlying data before finalizing long-term conclusions, emphasizing that future management steps could involve occupational health evaluations, adjustments to job roles, or capability procedures for workers unable to fulfill their duties.
How Is Children's Services Impacted by Sickness and Agency Spending?
The financial strain caused by absenteeism is particularly pronounced within critical frontline divisions, notably Children's Services.
As reported by Joe Regent of The Bolton News, figures submitted to the scrutiny committee show that Children's Services generated £1,409,084 in direct staff sickness costs during the year. To ensure statutory child protection duties were met, the department spent £4,951,289 on agency staff cover.
This workforce expenditure comes as Children's Services struggles with wider financial difficulties. Town Hall forecasts indicate the department faces a total overspend of approximately £19.9 million. However, council administrators clarified that staff sickness is only one contributing factor, with the primary drivers being high-cost residential placements and surging demand for special educational needs (SEN) transport.
What Support Measures Is Bolton Council Implementing for Staff?
To manage the rising absence costs, Town Hall leadership outlined several intervention programs designed to assist workers suffering from physical or mental ailments.
As detailed by Joe Regent of The Bolton News, the local authority has deployed an array of occupational health tools to help staff remain in employment or return safely following illness:
- Occupational Health & Counselling: Providing tailored clinical support and psychological assistance.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): Offering confidential professional advice for personal and workplace issues.
- Physiotherapy & MSK Care: Direct access to physical therapy to mitigate musculoskeletal conditions.
- Stress Risk Assessments: Proactive evaluations to identify workplace stressors before they lead to medical leave.
- Phased Returns and Adjustments: Facilitating gradual return-to-work schedules and modified duties.
- Workforce & Management Support: Training managerial staff to handle complex team dynamics, while enhancing overall recruitment and retention strategies.
What Are the Next Steps for the Council's Financial and Workforce Management?
With staff sickness costs climbing by nearly £900,000 in a single year and temporary staffing costs reaching £15.8 million, scrutiny committee members have called for regular updates to determine whether workplace interventions yield measurable improvements.
As reported by Joe Regent of The Bolton News, Town Hall directors maintain that supporting staff with severe health problems remains an ethical priority, even as councillors demand tighter expenditure controls to protect local public finances. Further comprehensive reports tracking occupational health outcomes, employee return rates, and agency reliance will be presented to the committee in upcoming cycles.