
A minister has ordered a neighborhood council to finish its experiment with a four-day week « instantly » over considerations concerning the « worth for cash » for native taxpayers.
South Cambridgeshire District Council, the primary native authority within the UK to undertake such a trial, had introduced plans to increase it till April.
Native authorities minister Lee Rowley wrote to Liberal Democrat council chief Bridget Smith to « ask that you just finish your experiment instantly » and say he had considerations concerning the « worth for cash » for native taxpayers.
There was elevated curiosity in four-day week experiments the world over, with some companies praising the shift to a shorter working week.
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The native council stated its four-day week trial « goals to permit the council to proceed to ship glorious providers to residents and companies, while enhancing consistency and lowering prices, and stated independently reviewed information confirmed it had been a hit.
However Mr Rowley stated such a mannequin is inappropriate for native authorities.
« As I’m certain you’re conscious, all councils are anticipated to make sure that finite and useful taxpayers’ cash is utilized in a means which demonstrates worth for cash – one thing which paying workers for an additional day of labor that isn’t carried out is unlikely to show, » he wrote in a letter dated 30 June.
« I strongly imagine within the potential of councils to innovate and discover new methods to discharge their tasks – but eradicating as much as 20% of the capability to do these actions is just not one thing which must be acceptable for a council searching for to show worth for cash for its taxpayers and residents.
« While some personal sector organisations might select to experiment with their very own capital and capability concerning ‘four-day working weeks’, native authorities mustn’t do the identical. »
Such an method might breach the council’s authorized duties underneath the Native Authorities Act, he stated.
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The Division for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities will « shortly be issuing clear steerage » on the matter, Mr Rowley added.
« I sit up for your affirmation that South Cambridgeshire can be returning to established norms round native authorities workforce capability within the coming weeks forward, » he stated.
Joe Ryle, director of the 4-Day Week marketing campaign group, stated: « This transfer by the federal government flies within the face of all of the proof, which reveals the four-day week has been an enormous success on the council.
« The four-day week with no lack of pay is already being rolled out throughout the personal sector so it is solely honest the general public sector are included too.
« There isn’t a good cause to finish this trial, which is already bringing many advantages to council staff, native residents and saving the council cash. »
Council chief Ms Smith replied to request a gathering with ministers to debate the matter, saying independently reviewed information confirmed « efficiency was maintained on the degree shortly earlier than the trial, whereas some areas of efficiency information noticed important enchancment in comparison with current information. »
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