Heather Williams: The four-day week at South Cambs is simply wrong

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 councillors (certainly the opposition councillors) have been told nothing about what was said or agreed. Which brings me to another serious problem at South Cambs: transparency.

Trust in the council is at an all-time low, and frankly, it’s not hard to see why. The four-day week has been pushed through in an undemocratic, closed-door way, with little regard for residents’ concerns. The Lib Dem administration seems convinced it knows better than both Conservative and Labour governments – and better than local people themselves.

Consultation feedback has shown growing dissatisfaction with service levels and how residents’ money is being spent. Yet instead of listening, the Lib Dems have doubled down. That’s why I refused to accept information on the condition that it couldn’t be shared with the public. It’s why we legally forced the council to release information. And it’s why we continue to challenge their spin – even when they seem to believe it themselves.

At a time of rising council tax and stretched services, residents are rightly worried that South Cambridgeshire District Council is pressing ahead with a policy the Government itself has flagged as a red warning sign. Concerns are already being raised about service responsiveness and availability. People quite reasonably expect accessible services, five days a week, and value for the money they pay.

This year’s council elections are the first since the four-day week was introduced. For residents, it’s a real opportunity to have their say. I’m standing for re-election too, and I know it will be a tough year. But this is a chance to vote against a policy that wasn’t even in the Lib Dem manifesto four years ago.

I’m standing because I want to see my local area thrive. I want council tax spent in a way that genuinely puts residents first. For too long now, the council has put itself first and residents second.

As Conservative Group leader in opposition, it’s my job to hold the administration to account – and to offer a clear alternative. By making different choices, the council can protect key priorities, plan for future pressures, and maintain financial stability, all without increasing the burden on local households. That means freezing council tax and scrapping the four-day week.

I stand by the principles of low taxation, fairness, and common sense when it comes to how our money is spent – and I believe many residents do too.