Opposition councillors have hit out at Haringey Borough Council for spending more than £40m on agency staff and consultants.

According to figures from a Freedom of Information request, the council has spent £38m on temporary agency staff and a further £1.6m on consultants since 2010.

Between 2010 and 2012 more than 6,000 people were hired on temporary contracts, with 500 employed for longer than 12 months.

Liberal Democrat councillors have hit out at the authority’s expenditure and are calling on council leaders to explain its spending while front line services are being cut.

Lib Dem group leader Councillor Richard Wilson said: “This is one of the worst examples of wasting public money I have come across.

“Spending £38m on agency staff and fees in less than three years is a disgrace, particularly at a time when Labour have cut lunch clubs for the elderly and cut funding for the voluntary sector.

“Time and time again, the Labour leadership of the council have shown they can’t manage the council’s finances properly."

He added: “Residents will be shocked to learn the council has paid one recruitment agency £6m in fees in just three years - they must be rubbing their hands in glee.

“How can it be good value for money to pay out such large amounts in agency fees while making council officers redundant?

“Labour need to stop complaining about the Government and concentrate on what is happening in their own back yard.

“The council’s finances are a mess because of their wasteful spending and they should be doing something about it now.”

Of the total spent on hiring staff, £6m was paid to the council’s recruitment firm Hays during the same period.

The Haringey Independent has contacted Haringey Council for comment about the spending on agency staff and is awaiting a reply.