South Cambridgeshire council keeps four-day week amid government threat

Almost 700 staff at South Cambridgeshire District Council have been trialling a four-day week

A council said it would continue to work a four-day week despite government threats of financial implications.

South Cambridgeshire District Council began the trial for desk-based and refuse workers last year to attract and retain staff.

It said it had spent about £400,000 less on agency staff for "hard to fill" roles, though the BBC recently reported that two departments spent more money.

The decision has been criticised by the council's Conservative opposition.

In October, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said councils pursuing a four-day working week should "cease immediately" and served South Cambridgeshire a "best value notice".

A four-day week involves staff doing 100% of their work in 80% of their contracted hours, for 100% of their pay.

In December, the government announced the possibility of using "financial levers" from 2025-26 to discourage councils from working four-day weeks. However, it has published no further information about the "levers".

Liberal Democrat-run South Cambridgeshire said it needed more information from the government before it made any changes. It said once provided, a consultation would be carried out to decide if the move would be permanent.

It has highlighted independent research that has showed benefits to its new working week, though the local Tories have accused the council of "tampering" with the results.

Conservatives have questioned how the four-day week could be providing value for money

Liberal Democrat John Williams, lead cabinet member for resources, said: "Our four-day week trial is about improving the consistency of services to residents and businesses - by helping us attract and keep hold of talented staff in a hugely competitive job market.

"We know we cannot compete on salary alone and so must find new ways of tackling our recruitment and retention issues."

The council said the new working week had seen "£434,000 less spent on agency staff covering hard to fill roles".

However, opposition leader Heather Williams, Conservative, said the council's figures were confusing and questioned how "value" was being provided to taxpayers.

"The figures keep jumping around all over the place," she told the BBC.

"The last thing we were told it was saving £776,000, now we are told £434,000.

"We are spending millions on salaries for days not worked."

Mrs Williams added that she would like to see officers back on a five-day week to see "proper comparisons".

A new report into the four-day week is due to be discussed by the council's employment and staffing committee.