Title

PAY

Council to trial four-day week

South Cambridgeshire DC is planning to begin a three-month trial of a four-day week to attract new staff.

South Cambridgeshire DC is planning to begin a three-month trial of a four-day week to attract new staff.

The council has struggled to fill all of its vacant positions. 

If senior councillors agree to the trial, which would take place between January and March, the council will closely monitor what impact it has on services for residents and businesses.

Research from Henley Business School, cited by the council, showed that organisations offering a four-day week benefit from an improved ability to attract and retain talent.

Council leader Bridget Smith said: ‘The trial would be all about seeing if a four-day week has the same positive impact on productivity, staff wellbeing and recruitment in local government, as seen elsewhere.

‘As a council we are leading the way on this; it could be truly ground-breaking for councils nationally.

'We only filled around half our vacancies during the first few months of this year and using temporary agency staff in these office roles costs us more than £2m a year.

'We know that if we instead filled those roles permanently it would only cost around £1m a year.'

PAY

Reform UK budget defeated

By Dan Peters | 06 February 2026

A budget proposing a 3.89% council tax increase by Warwickshire CC’s minority Reform UK administration has been defeated by rival parties.

PAY

Coventry axes annual festival to save cash

By Dan Peters | 06 February 2026

Coventry City Council has taken the ‘difficult decision’ not to run its three-day annual music and community festival due to financial reasons after 25 years.

PAY

City council requests £15m exceptional financial support

By Dan Peters | 06 February 2026

Brighton & Hove City Council has requested £15m of exceptional financial support (EFS) from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

PAY

Wandsworth's focus on outcomes per pound pays off

By Andrew Travers | 05 February 2026

Andrew Travers says Wandsworth’s place in the IMPOWER Top 10 is not an end in itself, but reinforces confidence in its outcomes per pound and ‘brilliant basi...

Popular articles by William Eichler