'Why would we apologise for cutting costs and saving money?'

LEADER SHRUGS OFF CALL FOR APOLOGY OVER WAY COUNCIL INTRODUCED FOUR-DAY WEEK

- By HANNAH BROWN Local democracy reporter

OPPOSITION councillors have argued that introducing the four-day week at South Cambridgeshire District Council "broke down trust" in the authority.

Councillor Heather Williams, leader of the Conservative group at the district council, said the four-day week was implemented by the ruling group "without a mandate".

She called on the cabinet to officially apologise to people in the district, which she said would help rebuild trust in the authority.

Councillor Bridget Smith (Liberal Democrat), leader of the district council, said she would not apologise for something she said had made improvements at the authority.

The four-day week trial was first introduced for desk-based staff back in 2023, before later being expanded to include staff working in the waste collection service.

Under the four-day week staff receive full pay for working fewer hours, but are expected to complete the same amount of work in that time.

It was introduced to see if it would help with staff recruitment and retention problems.

In July, a majority of councillors at the authority voted to permanently adopt a four-day working week after the leadership said the trial had "exceeded" expectations.