A local authority that launched a pioneering but controversial four-day working week pilot is set to run a consultation designed to support the arrangements becoming permanent.
South Cambridgeshire District Council prompted fury from Conservative ministers when it began trialling its system of offering staff reduced hours for 100% pay two years ago.
The move, aimed at aiding recruitment and retention at the authority, resulted in the imposition of a "Best Value Notice" regime by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities – now the Mininistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Civil servants are expressing a burgeoning interest in four-day-week working, with the the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and MHCLG among areas with campaigns under way.
SCDC last year produced research indicating that its four-day week system – which is still in operation – had been a success, saving hundreds of thousands of pounds with little impact on council services.
However, it said that Sunak-era threats to impose financial penalties on councils operating four-day-week models were a barrier to moving forwards with a public consultation on making SCDC's current working arrangements permanent.
While the new Labour government has failed to openly endorse South Cambridgeshire's plans, it did not renew the Best Value Notice when it expired in the autumn. Meanwhile, last month's local government financial settlement for 2025-26 had no mention of previously thretened "financial levers" to dissuade councils from exploring four-day-week working.
SCDC has now set out plans for an eight-week consultation to underpin the permanent adoption of its new working model.
Subject to final sign-off by council leader Bridget Smith, the exercise will run from 27 January to 23 March. It will seek the views of residents and businesses in South Cambridgeshire and those in neighbouring Cambridge City Council, which shares some services – such as waste and planning – with SCDC.
SCDC cabinet member for resources John Williams said the consultation woud be a long-awaited opportunity for people with an interest in the council's operations to have a say on the four-day-week plans.
"We have always made it very clear that we planned to give residents, businesses, parish and town councils and community groups the chance to share their views with us, on the impact on services they’ve received during our four-day week arrangements," he said.
"We have not been able to do that up to this point because of threats made by the previous government. With those threats lifted, we are now able to begin this process. Our approach is designed to ensure those who have used our services during the four-day week arrangements can quickly and easily share their views – though anyone, anywhere will be welcome to submit comments."
An academic analysis of the original four-day-week pilot at SCDC found staff turnover had dropped by 39% while applications for jobs had increased by 53%. Over the period, 134 additional staff were recruited, including some in "traditionally hard-to-fill roles", such as waste-vehicle drivers and planners.
The analysis, conducted by researchers from Cambridge University and the University of Salford, found the trial had led to an annual saving of £371,500, thanks to this reduced turnover and staff costs.
According to the analysis, performance either improved or remained stable in 22 of 24 service areas. The two exceptions were rent collection and the average number of days required to re-let housing stock.