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

Strategic authorities: Staying off the ropes

By Dan Peters | 29 September 2026

Dan Peters assesses Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority’s progress under mayor Luke Campbell, and asks how new strategic authorities can get off to a ...

PAY

Downgrading councils who use illegal children's homes holds sector to 'unattainable standard'

By Ann McGauran | 29 September 2026

Ofsted proposals to downgrade councils that use unregistered placements would hold local authorities (LAs) to an ‘unattainable standard’, children’s care chi...

PAY

Devolution must reach the councils that deliver

By Cllr Jason Perry | 29 September 2026

Devolution must give local authorities the powers, funding and accountability to deliver, says Executive Mayor of Croydon Jason Perry.

PAY

Concerns raised over Scots shake-up

By Dan Peters | 28 September 2026

Councillors have raised concerns about the lack of clarity around the consultation process and the challenging timescales in the Scottish Government’s major ...

Popular articles by William Eichler

-->