Cambridgeshire council defends four-day week amid second job concerns
South Cambridgeshire Council's four-day work week trial faces ongoing scrutiny with concerns about fairness, second jobs and the potential for conflicts of interest
South Cambridgeshire District Council has rejected calls for stricter monitoring of its controversial four-day working week despite concerns over fairness and potential conflicts of interest.
The trial, introduced in January 2023, allows employees to work four days while being paid for five.
An internal survey revealed that nearly one in six staff use their paid day off for a second job. Critics, including independent councillor Dan Lentell, argue this raises significant issues around accountability.
"This motion was about stopping council workers using their fifth day off on full pay from selling their services back to the council, effectively getting paid twice," Lentell told Greatest Hits Radio.
Lentell expressed support for the concept of a four-day week but criticised its implementation.
"I know from my own family set-up how important four-day working can be; my wife works four days and is paid for four days," he said.
"But ordinary working people, who are already paying more in council tax and social housing rent, are being asked to subsidise council workers who work fewer hours but are paid for five days.
"That is simply grotesquely unfair."
During a cabinet meeting on Tuesday (January 14), the Liberal Democrat-led council dismissed the need for further safeguards, arguing that the current system is effective.
Cllr John Williams, cabinet member for resources, defended the trial.
"Contracts clearly stipulate that staff cannot take on extra work which could cause a conflict of interest, and the council maintains a register of those with second jobs," he said.
Cllr Williams noted that most of the 69 employees with additional employment work in the Waste service and had their second jobs before the trial began.
The council maintains that the four-day week has improved services and reduced reliance on agency staff.
"We’ve saved money and filled hard-to-recruit posts with full-time employees, delivering better service," Cllr Williams added.
Lentell argued that the policy risks further misuse without stricter monitoring.
"Why would anybody in their right mind oppose proper safeguards to ensure that a planning officer, for instance, isn’t moonlighting for a property developer on their day off?" he asked.
The policy has faced criticism from national leaders.
Former Conservative ministers issued two Best Value Notices to the council, citing concerns over its responsibilities to taxpayers. However, South Cambridgeshire defended its record, stating there was no evidence the trial had negatively impacted service delivery.
But while Labour has withdrawn Conservative guidance opposing four-day work weeks in local authorities, the Government remains critical.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch previously described the scheme as "part-time work for full-time pay."
South Cambridgeshire’s cabinet maintains that the trial has delivered significant benefits, citing improved service delivery and cost savings.