SCDC Four-Day Week Trial

Following questions in the queue at One Stop and at the Meldreth Fete, here is an explanation of what this is all about!

This initiative by South Cambridgeshire District Council has generated intensive national press interest, both positive and negative. Some inaccurate information has been perpetuated. Please read the reports on the SCDC website (link below) for a fuller picture.

The key impetus for the trial was a stubborn difficulty in recruiting to posts and reliance on more costly agency staff to fill vacancies – coming with a big cost to the public purse. Some areas of the council, for example planning, are especially prone to losing newly trained staff to higher paid private sector jobs. Councils can’t match private sector pay but they can offer different ways of working.

The premise of the four-day-week is that productivity must not be adversely affected and that a healthier workforce may perform more productively, making up that ‘lost’ time. The world has changed and many factors have had a profound impact on the local authority workplace: technology, financial crisis, deep cuts to public services, changes in the international workforce since Brexit and a general decline in population health.

Disruption of staff turnover is something people may recognise through their own experience: multiple successive planning officers dealing with a planning application means lost institutional memory. Training new staff is expensive, and when staff don’t remain in post for long that training cost is lost - this is public money.

Prior to the announcement of the trial, a survey was undertaken on staff health. When the trial concluded, results showed improvement, while productivity was unaffected. Although not intended to measure recruitment, there was evidence of improvement in recruitment as well as retention, with savings of £300K. So it was decided to extend the trial to a 12-month period. There is a lot more information here: https://www.scambs.gov.uk/your-council-and-democracy/four-day-workingweek-trial.

If you have specific questions or concerns, please feel free to ask. We will collate questions and answers and share the results.

Dust Free Wood Floor Sanding & Restoration

Is Your Wooden Floor In Need Of Sanding ?

Call

DennyLodgeBusinessPark,ElyRoad,Chittering www.artofclean.co.uk/info@artofclean.co.uk

Little Hands Nursery School

The Moor, Melbourn

A Private Nursery School specialising in quality care & preschool education for the under fives

High staff to child ratio, individual child centred planning & learning, Flexible booking system for the 08.00am –5.30pm nursery day. Optional holiday clubs available, dedicated baby room for children under two

We accept nursery funding giving 15 & 30 hours/week of free funded nursery for all 3 and 4 year olds & eligible 2 year olds

For further information contact Sharon Tutty,nursery manager on 01763 260964 lh-melbourn@btconnect.com

Little Hands is also at Bourn, Linton and Newton visit the website at www.littlehands.co.uk

The Moor Melbourn

SG8 6EF

07163 223400 office@melbournvc.org www.melbournvc.org

A highly-rated community secondary school committed to ensuring every student achieves his or her very best through a rich and varied curriculum.

OFSTED (Sept 2017) confirmed:

‘An innovative curriculum that truly meets the needs of pupils’

‘The first school in Cambridgeshire to introduce Mandarin at Key Stage 3’

‘The school’s vision of Everybody is Somebody is evident in the support you provide for all pupils’

‘Parents are overwhelmingly supportive of the school’

Senior Leaders will be delighted to show around prospective students and their parents. For more information or to book your tour, please contact Karin Doyle – office@melbournvc.org

The Letting Centre is a dedicated letting agency established for 29 years, operating from High Street premises in Melbourn. We offer an expert, tailored service to suit each clients’ individual needs. Covering Cambridge, Royston, Melbourn and surrounding villages.

Friendly, no obligation advice on how to achieve the best possible return on your rental investment with clear and simple guidance on your legal obligations.

The Letting Centre (Cambridge) Ltd, 107 High Street, Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, SG8 6AP. Tel: 01763 263039. Email: enquiries@letting-centre.co.uk. www.letting-centre.co.uk

E-mail: enquiries@letting-centre.co.uk www.letting-centre.co.uk