The South Cambridgeshire District Council has recently implemented a contentious four-day work week, drawing criticism from Anthony Browne, the MP for the area. Browne argues that the Council’s decision is based on an ideological crusade and disregards evidence against the effectiveness of a shorter work week.
However, the Council, located 66 miles north of London, has been dealing with chronic understaffing for years, resulting in significant expenses for hiring agency workers to fill vacancies. In a letter to the Government, Councillor Smith explains that the shift to a four-day work week has proven successful in attracting new recruits and reducing costs.
Councillor Smith defends the trial, highlighting that independent assessments show maintained or improved performance in the first three months. Additionally, the Council has managed to fill previously unfilled permanent positions and decrease their annual agency bill by £300,000.
Nevertheless, the controversy surrounding the four-day work week has prompted the government to issue new guidance to local authorities, emphasizing the legal obligation to provide a full Monday-to-Friday service. This is in line with the “Best Value Duty” of councils under the Local Government Act 1999, which is designed to protect taxpayer interests.
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