ESSEX County Council is employing some of its most senior members of staff on temp rates of up to £800 a day – despite them being in their posts for years.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show County Hall has spent £31.2million on them over the last 18 months.

Five “temps” were on deals worth £800 a day or more, despite the council trying to save £300million.

The top earner was the council’s interim education estates strategy manager, whowas costing £825 a day from June 2012 to December 2014.

John O’Connell, director of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers will be shocked at just howmuchthis gravy train is costing them.

“Using interim staff should be a stop-gap, not a long-term solution.

The council must ensure it has its long-term priorities in place so it can plan staffing needs accordingly, and ease the pressure on taxpayers.”

Among the high-cost staff was Simon Hart, interim independent chairman of the Essex safeguarding children board, who from April 2011 was costing £800 a day before getting the post full time in January this year. The other temps on deals of £800 a day were the interim head for education and lifelong learning; the project director for Essex education services and a transformation consultant.

Kerry Smith, independent county councillor, said: “There is nothing temporary about this. It’s unacceptable. That kind of money would easily pay to keep the streetlights on.”

Below those on £800 rates are Mike Boyle, the council’s temporary head of adult operations, who has been on his £650 a day deal foralmost twoyears, having joined in June 2013.

MrBoyle,whoearned £157,000 in 2013/14, was previously employed by Southend Council on a temporary basis of £779 a day for three years.

Mr Boyle works alongside Peter Tempest, who cost £188,000 in 2013/14 in his temporary deal worth £650 a day, and both could have their contracts extended as part of a top-level shake-up at County Hall in April.

Jamie Huntman, Ukip group leader at County Hall, said: “How can you say someone is temporary when they started in 2013 or 2011? £650 a day is a lot of money to pay for someone and we’ve got a situation in these austere times where we need to save millions each year.”