Letter from Government to Neighbouring South Cambs
South Cambs District Council has been running on a four-day working week for 5 days pay since January 2023 and recently voted to make the change permanent. This is not compressed hours, but is in fact the equivalent of 52 days extra holiday per year. Cambridge City Council also follows this policy for its staff that are shared with South Cambs – namely planning and waste collection staff.
The previous Government sent South Cambs a “best value” letter, effectively placing it in special measures, citing its concern about value for money for tax-payers. The new Government removed the best value notice from the Council early in its new administration, but has now written to the Leader of South Cambs District Council, copying in Cambridge City Council to express its concern about the impact of the policy on services and stating that “it is the Government’s policy that Local Authorities should not be offering full time pay for part time work” and expressing “deep disappointment with your conduct”.
I remain concerned about this policy generally, but particularly in relation to local government reorganisation – I do not want East Cambs being dragged into a Greater Cambridge Unitary Council with South Cambs and Cambridge City which both have this policy in place.
Anna Bailey
East Cambs District Council, Member for the Downham Ward
Leader of the Council
Deputy Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
Chairman of East Cambs Community Land Trust
Deputy Chair Political of Ely & East Cambridgeshire Conservative Association
Phone:01353 663 253
Mobile: 07850 521 590
Council email: anna.bailey@eastcambs.gov.uk
