Heather Williams: The four-day week at South Cambs is simply wrong
Who benefits from this decision?
Cllr Heather Williams is Leader of the South Cambridgeshire District Council.
If you want to make a difference, you have to get involved. I’ve always believed that, which is why I’m determined to play my part in local government – and to make it work better for residents.
I’ve been Leader of the Opposition at South Cambridgeshire District Council since 2020. Over that time, residents have faced plenty of challenges, both nationally and locally. While there’s only so much any of us can do about national issues, at a local level, my group and I work hard to stand up for the people we represent. That’s why we’ve campaigned successfully against the Cambridge congestion charge, and more recently, why we’ve been calling out the council’s four-day working week.
Let’s be clear about what this actually is. The four-day week at South Cambs is not compressed hours. It’s full-time pay for part-time work. Staff contracted for 37 hours a week are paid for 37 hours – but only work 32.
At a time when many residents are struggling, and council tax keeps rising year after year, I, like many residents, believe this is simply wrong. It’s unfair, and it’s a poor use of taxpayers’ money.
Since the Lib Dem administration introduced this trial, we’ve challenged it at every opportunity. With the numbers stacked against us in the council chamber, that hasn’t been easy – but we’ll keep pushing until this policy ends. Because really, can you imagine this happening in most other industries? Why should council officers be paid for fewer hours when so many taxpayers are working full-time, often under huge pressure, just to make ends meet?
To be clear, this isn’t about blaming council staff. They do work hard. The responsibility lies squarely with the Lib Dem councillors who introduced the policy. They point to lower staff turnover and a reported 123 per cent increase in job applications as proof that it’s working. But let’s be honest – who wouldn’t apply for a job that pays for 37 hours while only requiring 32?
This four-day week has recently attracted national attention again. The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government recently wrote to council leaders making it clear that councils should not be offering “full-time pay for part-time work”, and warning that such arrangements could be seen as a sign of failure under the Government’s Best Value framework. Last October, the Minister also wrote directly to the Lib Dem leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, raising concerns about service delivery and value for money
This isn’t new territory. A previous Conservative Government also placed the council on a Best Value notice over the same concerns.
The council leader has since met with government to discuss the issue – but residents and …
Who benefits from this decision?
Cllr Heather Williams is Leader of the South Cambridgeshire District Council.
If you want to make a difference, you have to get involved. I’ve always believed that, which is why I’m determined to play my part in local government – and to make it work better for residents.
I’ve been Leader of the Opposition at South Cambridgeshire District Council since 2020. Over that time, residents have faced plenty of challenges, both nationally and locally. While there’s only so much any of us can do about national issues, at a local level, my group and I work hard to stand up for the people we represent. That’s why we’ve campaigned successfully against the Cambridge congestion charge, and more recently, why we’ve been calling out the council’s four-day working week.
Let’s be clear about what this actually is. The four-day week at South Cambs is not compressed hours. It’s full-time pay for part-time work. Staff contracted for 37 hours a week are paid for 37 hours – but only work 32.
At a time when many residents are struggling, and council tax keeps rising year after year, I, like many residents, believe this is simply wrong. It’s unfair, and it’s a poor use of taxpayers’ money.
Since the Lib Dem administration introduced this trial, we’ve challenged it at every opportunity. With the numbers stacked against us in the council chamber, that hasn’t been easy – but we’ll keep pushing until this policy ends. Because really, can you imagine this happening in most other industries? Why should council officers be paid for fewer hours when so many taxpayers are working full-time, often under huge pressure, just to make ends meet?
To be clear, this isn’t about blaming council staff. They do work hard. The responsibility lies squarely with the Lib Dem councillors who introduced the policy. They point to lower staff turnover and a reported 123 per cent increase in job applications as proof that it’s working. But let’s be honest – who wouldn’t apply for a job that pays for 37 hours while only requiring 32?
This four-day week has recently attracted national attention again. The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government recently wrote to council leaders making it clear that councils should not be offering “full-time pay for part-time work”, and warning that such arrangements could be seen as a sign of failure under the Government’s Best Value framework. Last October, the Minister also wrote directly to the Lib Dem leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, raising concerns about service delivery and value for money
This isn’t new territory. A previous Conservative Government also placed the council on a Best Value notice over the same concerns.
The council leader has since met with government to discuss the issue – but residents and …
Heather Williams: The four-day week at South Cambs is simply wrong
Who benefits from this decision?
Cllr Heather Williams is Leader of the South Cambridgeshire District Council.
If you want to make a difference, you have to get involved. I’ve always believed that, which is why I’m determined to play my part in local government – and to make it work better for residents.
I’ve been Leader of the Opposition at South Cambridgeshire District Council since 2020. Over that time, residents have faced plenty of challenges, both nationally and locally. While there’s only so much any of us can do about national issues, at a local level, my group and I work hard to stand up for the people we represent. That’s why we’ve campaigned successfully against the Cambridge congestion charge, and more recently, why we’ve been calling out the council’s four-day working week.
Let’s be clear about what this actually is. The four-day week at South Cambs is not compressed hours. It’s full-time pay for part-time work. Staff contracted for 37 hours a week are paid for 37 hours – but only work 32.
At a time when many residents are struggling, and council tax keeps rising year after year, I, like many residents, believe this is simply wrong. It’s unfair, and it’s a poor use of taxpayers’ money.
Since the Lib Dem administration introduced this trial, we’ve challenged it at every opportunity. With the numbers stacked against us in the council chamber, that hasn’t been easy – but we’ll keep pushing until this policy ends. Because really, can you imagine this happening in most other industries? Why should council officers be paid for fewer hours when so many taxpayers are working full-time, often under huge pressure, just to make ends meet?
To be clear, this isn’t about blaming council staff. They do work hard. The responsibility lies squarely with the Lib Dem councillors who introduced the policy. They point to lower staff turnover and a reported 123 per cent increase in job applications as proof that it’s working. But let’s be honest – who wouldn’t apply for a job that pays for 37 hours while only requiring 32?
This four-day week has recently attracted national attention again. The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government recently wrote to council leaders making it clear that councils should not be offering “full-time pay for part-time work”, and warning that such arrangements could be seen as a sign of failure under the Government’s Best Value framework. Last October, the Minister also wrote directly to the Lib Dem leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, raising concerns about service delivery and value for money
This isn’t new territory. A previous Conservative Government also placed the council on a Best Value notice over the same concerns.
The council leader has since met with government to discuss the issue – but residents and …
