Title

HUMAN RESOURCES

Council expands four-day week trial after fresh call to end

A four-day week trial at South Cambridgeshire DC will expand despite local government minister Lee Rowley again calling on the council to end the pilot.

A four-day week trial at South Cambridgeshire DC will expand despite local government minister Lee Rowley again calling on the council to end the pilot.

The council began a four-day week trial in January after struggling to fill several vacancies and often using agency staff to cover them, with waste crews now being brought in to the scheme.

South Cambridgeshire has recruited to nine of the 23 posts that could not be filled permanently before the trial, which it expects will save £550,000 on agency cover this year, according to a report that will be discussed by the council's employment and staffing committee tomorrow.

Last week Mr Rowley wrote to the council with a repeated request to end the trial.

But council leader Cllr Bridget Smith said: ‘We need the trial to run for its full planned length - until the end of March - to gather data and assess whether a difference has been made.'

HUMAN RESOURCES

Reorganisation repercussions

By Paul Marinko | 23 July 2026

Following the latest round of local government reorganisation last week, ministers claim the new unitaries will boost growth and strengthen our cities but no...

HUMAN RESOURCES

Can South Cambridgeshire's four-day week case be broadened into an argument?

By Abdool Kara | 22 April 2026

Abdool Kara does not question the data South Cambridgeshire has produced in favour of a four-day working week, but he doubts that can be broadened into an ar...

HUMAN RESOURCES

Conservatives pledge ban on council four-day work weeks

By William Eichler | 08 April 2026

The Conservative Party has vowed to outlaw the practice of local authorities offering four-day working weeks on full pay should they win the next General Ele...

HUMAN RESOURCES

Peering into the future of Total Place

By Ann McGauran | 24 March 2026

National policymakers and local system leaders gathered at a convention to look at how place-based public service reform can go further and faster. Ann McGau...

Popular articles by Ellie Ames