Minister for Local Government(): I would like to update the House on the government’s
position regarding the small number of councils currently
experimenting, or proposing to experiment, with the use of
four-day working weeks within local government.
Local councils play a pivotal role in the delivery of core public
services and in the regeneration of their communities. The sector
has a deserved reputation for effectiveness in much of its
delivery and in having improved its efficiency over the last
decade. Local government’s continued ability to find new, more
effective and efficient ways to discharge their responsibilities
and to deliver high quality services for their residents has been
a vital part of our mission to repair the nation’s finances since
2010.
The reputation of local government, however, is being impacted by
the ideological experimentation of a small number of councils who
are attempting to suggest that the removal of twenty percent of
their workforce’s productive capacity can, somehow, result in
increased overall corporate output. Asking the taxpayer to
shoulder the full-time expense for part time hours by deleting
20% of the working week is not compatible with a council’s
requirement to demonstrate value for money.
In normal circumstances, the government of course respects the
right of councils to make their own decisions on key issues.
There are also times, however, when government deems it
proportionate to step in to ensure that residents value for money
is protected. The issue of the four-day working week is one of
those times.
As a result, today I am publishing clear guidance which sets out
the department’s expectations for local authorities in England
who are considering adopting a four-day working week or who have
done so already. This guidance makes clear that the government
does not support a four-day working week and does not expect
councils to adopt this arrangement. This guidance will support
councils in discharging their duties and to ensure that they
maintain their work to continuously improve and demonstrate best
value.
The government is being extremely clear that it does not support
the adoption of the four-day working week within the local
government sector. Local authorities that are considering
adopting it should not do so. Those who have adopted it already
should end this practice immediately. Those councils who continue
to disregard this guidance are now on notice that the government
will take necessary steps in the coming months ahead to ensure
that this practice is ended within local government.
