Council admits it has no idea how many of its staff are working from home

Norfolk County Council has confessed it is unable to determine how many of its 7,000 non-school employees are working remotely, a disclosure likely to infuriate the authority's newly installed Reform leadership.

The admission emerged through a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Eastern Daily Press, with council officials confirming they simply do not collect such data.

Reform councillors attempting to establish the true extent of home working arrangements have reportedly encountered similar obstacles in their own inquiries.

The authority also acknowledged it does not track usage of the 1,244 desk spaces available at County Hall for its workforce.

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The revelation comes amid mounting friction at County Hall following Reform's victory in May's local elections.

The party has been vocal in its opposition to remote working within the public sector, maintaining that such arrangements damage productivity and fail to deliver value for taxpayers.

This week, the new administration ordered a comprehensive review of working practices across the council.

Notably, in their FOI response issued on Wednesday, managers stated no such review was taking place. Just 24 hours later, however, a council spokesman confirmed an examination of staff working arrangements had indeed commenced under the new political leadership.

Remote and hybrid working became entrenched at the council during the pandemic, when approximately 85 per cent of the workforce vacated their offices.

The shift has been so pronounced that three of County Hall's ten floors have since been leased to other tenants.

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Employees can even request permission to carry out their duties from overseas for periods of up to 90 days.

A recent photograph of one floor, obtained by the Eastern Daily Press, depicts a largely deserted workspace.

Council managers have defended the flexible arrangements, arguing they boost efficiency by eliminating commuting time for staff.

A council spokesman defended the current setup, stating: "Our focus is on ensuring we are effective, accountable and provide value for money."

The spokesman emphasised that numerous council employees never worked from traditional office settings, instead spending their time in communities supporting vulnerable residents, conducting site inspections, or delivering frontline services.

The prospect of alterations to flexible working policies has contributed to what has been dubbed the "rainbow rebellion" – a movement among County Hall staff resisting the new Reform administration.

Reform councillors have opted to withhold comment until the review reaches its conclusion.

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