Michael Gove said people would “expect” council staff to work a full five days a week, amid a row over the government’s demand for the local authority to halt a four-day-a-week trial.
The settlement secretary said he is a “strong believer” in the rule that council staff must work Monday through Friday.
It comes after ministers ordered the Liberal Democrat-run South Cambridgeshire Borough Council to end its four-day-a-week trial.
Speaking at the LGA conference in Bournemouth, Gove said: “I believe strongly, as does a local government minister, that when taxpayers pay for services, they need people to work for a full five days a week.
“It seems to me that for every penny paid in council tax we deserve, all together, to see those in local government work a full week for those who are council taxpayers too.
“I am a firm believer that the five day working week is what many other citizens face, and they have to work five days in order to be able to pay council tax and other needs.
“It seems to me that the five-day work week is what we should expect of people in the public service who are paid by council taxpayers.”
Gove’s comments come after LGA warned councils they faced a £3 billion funding gap just to maintain current levels of services, amid a spiraling inflation crisis.
“Inflation, the national living wage, energy costs and rising demand are all adding billions to boards just to maintain their footing,” said Pete Marland, Chairman of the Board of Resources.
A government spokesman said ministers would consider funding the council ahead of next year’s budget “as we do every year to ensure councils continue to deliver vital services”.
They added: “We have also provided multi-year certainty to local government, with spending set out over the next two years to allow councils to plan ahead with confidence.”
