Special meeting called at South Cambridgeshire District Council

It's after the government stepped up its action against the four-day week.

An Extraordinary Meeting has been called in South Cambridgeshire, following further government action against the four-day week trial.

A Best Value Notice was issued to the authority earlier this month, outlining government’s concerns about the trial and whether it is offering value for money.

It means the district council will now have to share the impact the trial is having on individual employee productivity and the council’s services as a whole.

The district council began a four-day week trial at the start of the year to try and improve the recruitment and retention of staff.

The authority’s leadership has faced backlash over the trial, including from Local Government Minister Lee Rowley, calling for the trial to end.

"We are extremely concerned South Cambridgeshire District Council continues to experiment with taxpayers’ money by offering full time pay for part time work.

"We have been clear that the government does not support the so-called four day working week and, despite issuing clear guidance, this council has chosen to ignore it.

"The government is making clear this needs to end and, although we hope not to have to, we will take further action should that prove to be necessary."

The leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, Bridget Smith, hit back at the notice, accusing the government of "putting politics before progress".

She later confirmed at a cabinet meeting that the four-day week trial would be stopped if there was a downturn in the council’s performance.

A district council meeting is now scheduled for 20 November 2023, to discuss the Best Value Notice issued by the government.