South Cambridgeshire District Council is the employing authority of two services which it shares with Cambridge City Council – Greater Cambridge Shared Planning and Greater Cambridge Shared Waste. As a result, these shared service colleagues have been part of South Cambridgeshire District Council's four-day week trial. 

Today (17 July 2025), South Cambridgeshire District Council has voted to become the first council in the UK to permanently adopt a four-day week – after rigorous independent analysis showed most services got better or were maintained, with significant improvements to recruitment and retention.

Cambridge City Council is due to consider whether to support the continuation of the four-day week in the shared services at the Full Council meeting on Thursday 24 July, meaning South Cambridgeshire District Council’s decision is subject to the outcome of the Cambridge City Council discussions.

Cllr Cameron Holloway, Leader of Cambridge City Council, commented: “We’ve supported from the outset South Cambridgeshire’s progressive thinking on tackling the recruitment and retention crisis affecting councils up and down the country.

“Our primary obligation is to our residents, and so we're delighted that the shared planning and waste services have continued to be delivered to a high standard throughout the four-day week, and that the council has saved money in those services. The waste service as a whole makes nearly 800,000 collections per month and has maintained a success rate of 99.89%, while the planning service has improved in key metrics such as the time taken to decide planning applications.

"I'm glad that council workers – who, let's not forget, are our neighbours, friends and family, as well as providing vital services to residents – have benefitted from a better work-life balance and have seen improvements in their health and wellbeing.

“Our councillors are looking forward to discussing the recommendation to support South Cambridgeshire’s decision to become a permanent four-day week council at our forthcoming Full Council on 24 July. In the 21st century, with all the technological advantages of modern life, we should aspire to a society where people have a positive work-life balance and can live healthily and happily. We need forward-thinking organisations to pave the way for that to happen."

Read South Cambridgeshire District Council's news release in full.