Four-day week council attacks 'culture war' notice

Council leader Bridget Smith said she was happy the Labour government did not reissue the Best Value Notice

A council leader has branded the former government's decision to issue a Best Value Notice over a four-day week trial at her authority as a "fruitless attempt to stoke up a culture war".

Liberal Democrat Bridget Smith, leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said she was pleased the formal notice of concern had not been reissued by the Labour government.

However, at a meeting on Thursday, opposition councillors claimed there was "palpable anger" from residents about the trial and raised concerns staff may be taking on second jobs.

The council denied any staff members had taken on additional jobs since the trial began.

The notice by the Conservative government asked the council to demonstrate it was offering value to taxpayers by introducing four-day weeks.

The weeks involve staff working 80% of the hours they used to, but for the same pay.

The authority began the trial in early 2023 to see if it would improve staff recruitment and retention problems, and boost productivity and wellbeing.

At a full council meeting on Thursday, Ms Smith said: "Looking back, the Best Value Notice seems to be reactionary, politically motivated, a fruitless attempt to stoke up a culture war, and we are still here and the last government is not.

"I hope that moving forward politics will be taken out of this, because at the end of the day it is operational. This is about finding ways of delivering the very best services possible to our residents.

"The fact that we have happy, healthy, well-motivated, highly productive staff is what we should all be aspiring to."

Regarding when the trial would end, the authority said it was awaiting clarity from the government on the financial settlement for 2025-26. Once gained, the Liberal Democrats, which run the council, said they planned to run a consultation on the next steps.

'Palpable anger'

Opposition councillors have continued to raise concerns, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Independent councillor Daniel Lentell put forward a motion raising concerns people were not getting value for money, and suggested staff could potentially use their non-working day to work elsewhere or "sell back" their services.

He also raised concerns that staff working elsewhere could potentially create a conflict of interest, and called for "clear guidelines" to be established to prohibit this.

Conservative Richard Williams seconded the motion and said it "raises issues that are fundamental to public trust".

He said there was "palpable anger" from people in the district about the four-day week.

However, the council said all second jobs needed to be reported and no-one had started a second job on their non-working day during the trial.