Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Cereste, Councillor Lamb, and Councillor Holdich.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting were approved as a true and accurate record.

          The Committee received a report and presentation from the Acting Head of Human Resources outlining the introduction of parking charges, appeals process for employees identified as non Key Users and changes to the mileage claim rates for employees.

          The report sought the agreement of the Committee to implement the changes to the employee terms and conditions, employment policies and guidance appended to the report, those being:

1)     To implement the changes to the terms and conditions of employment relating     to:

                                                        i)      the implementation of a parking charge for staff;

                                                      ii)      the removal of the essential car user allowance;

                                                    iii)      changing the business mileage rate that can be claimed; and

                                                    iv)      the removal of the salary subsidy childcare voucher scheme

2)     To agree to the implementation of the following Employment Policies:

                                                        i)      Travel and Subsistence Policy (attached at Appendix A);

                                                      ii)      Car Parking Permit Salary Sacrifice Scheme (attached at Appendix B); and

                                                    iii)      Key User Status Guidance (attached at Appendix C)

          Members were advised that the car parking policy brought together the practical arrangements around implementing the parking charges for employees. 

Members were advised that from 1^st April 2011, employees would be charged to park in the Council car parks in line with the arrangements outlined in Appendix A of the committee report on page 14, in rate table number 1. All charges would be set by linking actual amounts to be paid using a salary banding scheme.  The actual amounts would range from the highest earners on £81,000, paying £835.08, to the lowest earners on £0-12,900, paying £210 per annum.  A measure which had been developed to help employees with the costs would introduce a salary sacrifice arrangement in line with HRMC guidance.  Under the salary sacrifice rules, although employees would pay the full gross amount, the HMRC rule allowed for a tax break, which would cost employees less in their net pay in the long run.

Consideration had been given for those employees working part time and the costs had been set at a pro-rata basis in conjunction with salary banding, which were detailed in Appendix A, on page 14 of the committee report, rate table 1. 

Members were advised that there would be an occasional user’s season ticket scheme introduced to help employees that did not wish to drive their car and this would also encourage employees to cycle or walk to work. This supported the Council’s environmental objectives. The season parking tickets would be available to employees and would cost £2.30 per day.

Members were advised that the report, which had been circulated prior to the announcement of the HMRC change, detailed that the business mileage rates had been standardised at 40p as part of the cost saving measures. Members were informed that the rate was to change to 45p in line the new HMRC rate.

Members were advised that to encourage the environmental aspects, cycles and motorcycles would continue to be allowed to park for free.

The Travel and Subsistence policy was to introduce of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.