Councillors won’t give in to pressure to stop 4-day week trial

The government wants South Cambridgeshire to prove the trial is working.

The district council began a four day week trial in January 2023 to try and improve the recruitment and retention of staff.

The authority says it has improved wellbeing and productivity, but some ministers and local residents have been pushing for the trial to end.

Earlier this month, a Best Value Notice was issued by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

It told the council to prove the trial is working and offering value for money.

Liberal Democrat South Cambridgeshire District Council leader Bridget Smith says the government has "refused to engage" with the authority about the trial.

"The intent of the Best Value Notice is perfectly clear, it is to sink our trial prematurely and to provide a smokescreen for political attacks from the Conservatives.

"Rather than wait to read the conclusions of the trial next year, the Conservative government has decided to put party political interests first.

"The data requested in the notice from the government includes data not normally collected by councils and the sum is nothing short of bizarre.

"The sheer amount of it will be onerous and costly for the council to provide, and that is a burden on our tax payers.

"We are disappointed by those who have tried to turn this trial into an issue of ideological orthodoxy and a culture war, at a time when we should really be working together to support our residents through the many challenges caused by this government."

On 20 November 2023, an extraordinary meeting was held, where South Cambridgeshire District Council agreed to the terms set out in the Best Value Notice.