Government criticises council's four-day week

South Cambridgeshire District Council trialled a shorter week in 2023 and made it permanent in July

A government minister has expressed his "deep disappointment" in the first UK council to adopt a four-day working week.

South Cambridgeshire District Council, which is led by the Liberal Democrats, began trialling a shorter working week in 2023 before it was made permanent in July.

Local Government Secretary Steve Reed said there was a decline in performance in the council's housing service and asked how the local authority would "mitigate" this.

In response, council leader Bridget Smith defended its housing service and said she was "extremely disappointed" in his letter.

The council's policy expects full-time staff to complete 100% of their work in about 80% of their original hours without a reduction in pay.

Steve Reed said local authorities should not be offering full-time pay for part time work

In his letter to Smith, seen by the BBC, Reed said: "Our collective focus on delivering value for money for taxpayers must be unyielding."

He claimed there was a decline in performance of key housing-related services, including rent collection and re-letting times.

"If social housing is built by this government, and your team are unable to move residents into them so that they are standing empty, then I must reiterate my deep disappointment with your conduct," he continued.

"I would like to understand how the council is seeking to mitigate the impact to those services which have worsened over the course of the four-day working week trial."

The Conservative leader of the opposition at the council, Heather Williams, said she was grateful for the government's intervention and would work with anyone to "stop" a four-day week for five days' pay.

Bridget Smith says since the four-day working week was introduced, the council has saved about £400,000

Smith said: "We are extremely disappointed to receive this letter from the minister as we are an exceptionally high-performing council."

She said the council had "delivered" an annual saving of almost £400,000 since the four-day week was introduced, having spent less money on agency staff.

Staff turnover had decreased by 41% and there had been a 123% increase in applications for roles, she continued.

The council also defended its housing services, saying it consistently performed in the top 25% of local authorities for the speed with which it re-lets housing stock.

A Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government spokesperson said: "Local authorities are independent employers and we won't micromanage them - but our focus must be on delivering value for money for taxpayers.

"We are concerned about the impact a four-day working week has had on some local services in South Cambridgeshire and have asked the council to explain how services will be protected for residents."