Ministers have ordered a Cambridgeshire council to finish its “experiment” with a four-day working week.
South Cambridgeshire district council had introduced plans to increase its trial till subsequent April however ministers have ordered officers to finish it now.
The Liberal Democrat-led council was the primary native authority within the UK to undertake such a trial.
The council had declared the trial successful, saying the affect on recruitment and the well being and wellbeing of workers had been “overwhelmingly optimistic”.
The native authorities minister, Lee Rowley, wrote to the council chief, Bridget Smith, to “ask that you simply finish your experiment instantly” and mentioned he had issues concerning the “worth for cash” for native taxpayers.
Smith mentioned she was “very shocked” to obtain the letter and had requested a gathering with ministers to debate the matter.
There was rising curiosity in a four-day week within the UK and globally, with some companies praising the shift to a shorter working week.
However in a letter dated 30 June, Rowley mentioned such a mannequin was inappropriate for native authorities.
“As I’m certain you’re conscious, all councils are anticipated to make sure that finite and helpful taxpayers’ cash is utilized in a manner which demonstrates worth for cash – one thing which paying staff for an additional day of labor that’s not carried out is unlikely to show,” he wrote.
“I strongly consider within the capacity of councils to innovate and discover new methods to discharge their obligations – but eradicating as much as 20% of the capability to do these actions just isn’t one thing which must be acceptable for a council looking for to show worth for cash for its taxpayers and residents.
“While some private-sector organisations might select to experiment with their very own capital and capability relating to ‘four-day working weeks’, native authorities shouldn’t do the identical.”
He mentioned such an method might breach the council’s authorized duties below the Native Authorities Act.
The Division for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities would “shortly be issuing clear steering” on the matter, Rowley added.
“I look ahead to your affirmation that South Cambridgeshire will likely be returning to established norms round native authorities workforce capability within the coming weeks forward,” he mentioned.
Smith mentioned: “I used to be shocked to obtain Mr Rowley’s letter and we have now written to him to request a gathering with ministers to debate this matter. This can be a trial, however we have now already seen sturdy independently assessed proof which confirmed that efficiency was maintained, and in some circumstances improved, within the first three months.
“Initially of our trial we have been carrying a £2m annual company invoice. Through the first three months of the trial, we crammed 4 everlasting posts that had beforehand been unattainable to fill. This has diminished our annual invoice by £300,000. As time goes on it’s turning into more and more clear that recruitment has been positively affected, each by way of the standard and variety of candidates, and the resultant success in filling vacant posts.”
Jolyon Maugham, the director of the Good Legislation Mission, mentioned: “That is bar-stool lawyering par excellence. If Lee Rowley actually desires to enhance the standard of labor funded by the taxpayer, I’d recommend sooner or later he will get correct impartial authorized recommendation earlier than he opines on the regulation.”
He added: “If a authorized problem is introduced, and succeeds, I’ll eat my wig.”
Joe Ryle, the director of the 4-Day Week marketing campaign group, mentioned: “This transfer by the federal government flies within the face of all of the proof, which exhibits the four-day week has been an enormous success on the council.
“The four-day week with no lack of pay is already beingrolled out throughout the personal sector, so it’s solely honest the general public sector are included too. The irony is that this trial is already bringing many advantages to council staff, native residents and saving the council cash.”
