Council personnel are anticipated to observe a conventional five-day work week, according to Michael Gove's statement.
In a recent conference at the Local Government Association (LGA) in Bournemouth, Michael Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary, emphasized the importance of council employees working a full five-day week. This statement comes amidst growing concerns about funding for local authorities, as the LGA has warned of a £3bn funding gap due to inflation, national living wage, energy costs, and increasing demand.
Gove expressed his belief that a five-day working week is what "many other citizens" are facing, and that for every penny paid in council tax, taxpayers deserve to see council employees working a full working week. This stance is shared by the minister for local government, who has ordered the Liberal Democrat-run South Cambridgeshire District Council to end its trial of a four-day work week.
The government's position is clear: taxpayers expect council staff to work a full five-day week. According to Gove, this is necessary to pay for council services and other needs.
In an effort to alleviate some of the financial burden on councils, the current government plans for 2026 include a federal subsidy of 6.5 billion euros for transmission network costs to reduce electricity prices. This is part of a broader tax relief package aimed at stabilizing energy costs for companies and the agricultural sector. The government has also introduced an investment program covering tax revenue shortfalls of up to 48 billion euros until 2029, with the federal government assuming full compensation to states and municipalities.
As part of this investment, the government will be investing eight billion euros from 2026 to 2029 into education and healthcare, providing a form of long-term financial security for local authorities. Additionally, the government plans to provide multi-year certainty to local government, outlining spending over the next two years to allow councils to plan ahead with confidence.
In light of these financial measures, the government spokesman mentioned that ministers will look at council funding ahead of next year's budget to ensure councils can continue to deliver vital services. Despite these efforts, the LGA's warning of a funding gap remains a concern for local authorities across the country.
Pete Marland, resources board chairman of the LGA, underscored this concern, stating that inflation, the national living wage, energy costs, and increasing demand are adding billions to councils just to maintain existing levels of services. This underscores the need for a balanced approach to council work weeks and funding, ensuring that local authorities can deliver essential services while also providing a reasonable work environment for their employees.
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