Four-day week may be considered a sign of failure, England councils told

Steve Reed, the secretary for local government, wrote to all councils in England with the advice. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/EPA

The secretary for local government has written to all councils to warn that adopting a four-day week for staff puts them at risk of being declared a failing authority, according to reports.

Twenty-five councils have discussed a four-day week policy and one, South Cambridgeshire district council, has already moved to the pattern.