Issue - meetings

Liz Watts, Chief Executive, South Cambridgeshire District Council

Non-key decision

By the time this report is received by the Strategy and Resources Committee on Monday 30th January, the 4DW trial will have started for nearly all desk-based roles in South Cambridgeshire, including the Shared Planning Service.

This report provides a brief summary of the planning process that took place to prepare for the trial and gives a brief insight into the first two weeks of the trial in practice (up to the report deadline date of 13 January 2023). A further verbal update will be provided at the committee meeting, by which time a full month of the trial will have taken place.

Decision of The Executive Councillor for Finance, Resources and Transformation and Non-Statutory Deputy Leader:

·       Note the report.

·       Provide any feedback thought relevant to the Chief Executive of South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Chief Executive of South Cambridgeshire District Council introduced the report.

The Chief Executive of South Cambridgeshire District Council said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.         The first KPI data would be collected in February. Would be taken to South Cambridgeshire Staffing Committee in person and sent to the Scrutiny Committee.

     ii.         The pulse survey was a temperature check, the more detailed survey is the health and wellbeing survey which was undertaken in August and will run again in April. This will be run by an external company. It would contain much more detail.

    iii.         The three-month trial was testing whether it is possible to run services over a four-day week. If it appears possible, they will extend the trial for a year.

   iv.         The four-day week may assist in tackling the problem of recruitment and retention.

     v.         The key is sustainability. The vast majority of business that have gone to a four day work week have not gone back.

The scrutiny committee unanimously approved the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor for Finance, Resources and Transformation and Non-Statutory Deputy Leader approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of interest declared by the Executive Councillor (and any dispensation granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.