Government decision to serve Best Value Notice “heavy-handed” and “tantamount to bullying”, say Suffolk Borough and District Council Leaders

Five Suffolk Borough and District Council leaders have written an open letter to bordering South Cambridgeshire District Council to show support for the council’s trial of a four-day working week.

The letter describes the four-day working week as an “innovative approach” to tacking several problems that local authorities are facing, adding, “it is clear from the evidence you have gathered so far that it is showing signs of success”.

This follows South Cambridgeshire being issued with a best value notice by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

DLUHC revealed in its best value notice last week (3 November) that if the council “chooses to continue with this trial following receipt of this letter, the Department is now formally requesting additional detail on its impact, both on individual employee productivity, the Council and the provision of services as a whole.”

In their open letter to the council, the leaders of Ipswich Borough Council, Mid Suffolk District Council, East Suffolk Council, Babergh District Council and West Suffolk Council described the Government’s decision to serve a best value notice “heavy-handed” and “tantamount to bullying”.

The letter added: “It is designed to close down your trial before it has had time to complete and provide the complete data. This is a misuse of the Best Value Notice process”.

It also noted that data provided by South Cambridgeshire shows that the council is saving money, whilst improving recruitment and sickness absences.

“This contradicts the government’s claim that it doesn’t give the residents value for money – a claim that they haven’t yet substantiated with evidence of their own”, wrote leaders.

The Liberal Democrat Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, Cllr Bridget Smith, previously criticised Local Government Minister Lee Rowley for ignoring an invitation to talk to councillors about the four-day week trial.

In July, the Minister sent the council a formal request to end the trial, arguing that such an approach could impact its ‘Best Value Duty’ under the Local Government Act. However, the council announced in September that its trial would continue.

Commenting on the government’s intervention, the open letter stated: “What you [South Cambridgeshire] are doing is a matter for a local authority alone and the government shouldn’t intervene: it sets a dangerous precedent.

“Councils must be allowed to make their own informed decisions. We are all answerable to our residents who can decide if they like what we do when the time comes for them to vote.”

The letter concluded: “We are appalled at the way you are being treated and we call on DLUHC to engage with you meaningfully to achieve a mutually satisfactory way forward”.

A DLUHC spokesperson said: "We have made clear that the Government does not support the four-day working week and have issued guidance to the sector on this.

“Councils need to ensure they are providing taxpayers with value for money and we believe removing up a fifth of their capacity is not in line with this.

“We issued a Best Value Notice to South Cambridgeshire District Council over these concerns and are waiting to receive data about the trial.”

Lottie Winson