Agenda item

To receive a report from the Director of Resources and Housing summarising proposals aimed at reducing emissions from staff travel.

The report of the Director of Resources and Housing provided the Scrutiny Board with an update on the Council’s position on staff travel, with specific reference to proposals that were reported to Executive Board on the Climate Emergency in January 2020.

In attendance for this item were:

• Councillor James Lewis – Executive Member for Resources
• Polly Cook – Chief Officer Sustainable Energy and Air Quality
• Alex Watson – Head of Human Resources

Members were advised that the proposals are intended to ensure that ‘grey fleet’ staff travel is zero emissions by 2030. To achieve this a range of measures are to be introduced and these would focus on:

• Adopting new approaches to using transport smartly and linking this to better journey planning and use of technology;
• Employment policy - changing the terms and conditions and offering new incentives to travel appropriately;
• Changes in working practices and culture.

As part of the introduction to the report, the following key points were highlighted:

• In 2018/19, lump sum, mileage and car parking claims relating to the grey mileage amounted to £3.25m;
• The Council is working with trade unions to find a way forward to achieve the aim of undertaking no grey fleet mileage in pure petrol or diesel cars by 2025, with a further target of having no mileage in private cars unless in zero emission vehicles by 2030;
• Existing initiatives aimed at promoting more sustainable modes of travel for staff include car leasing schemes, discounted travel schemes on both buses and trains and bike loans;
• A Travel Planning framework for work travel is being refreshed to set out a hierarchy of choices in order of sustainability under which staff should plan and make work journeys.  Linked to this, there will be a single, accessible online travel planning portal;
• To build on earlier staff engagement exercises and help stimulate wider discussion, a Climate Emergency Staff Forum is also being set up.

In consideration of the report, Members’ discussions focused on the following areas;

• The piloting of the Lift-Share car sharing App and the potential benefits of including Elected Members too;
• The piloting of a new Electric Vehicle pool car scheme;
• Incentivised passes on public transport including more flexible ticket options;
• Salary sacrifice arrangements and tax incentives;
• Actively promoting the benefits of using electric cars, which already includes free car parking at LCC car parks;
• The need for more charging points, particularly at staff locations, to further encourage electric car usage;
• Working closely with schools to promote sustainable travel options for teaching staff;
• Hiring of transport such as taxi’s, minibuses and coaches for both staff and Members to undertake their roles;
• Exploring the use of electric motorbikes.

In conclusion, it was agreed that the comments and suggestions made by the Scrutiny Board would be reflected in a draft Statement and brought back to the next meeting for consideration and approval.

RESOLVED –

(a)  To note the content of report.

(b)  That a Statement is drafted to reflect the comments and suggestions made by the Scrutiny Board and is brought to the Board’s next meeting for formal consideration and approval.