As employees of Social Services we have to complete high mileages for KCC in our capacity as employess in our work with service users.
We feel even with this essential user allowance we are already losing out (the devaluing of our own cars due to mileage, the increasing cost of petrol as well as the amount of wear and tear on cars). Removing this would make it untenable to continue using our vehicles for this purpose. Based on driving an average of 300 miles a month (some do far more than this), we will be £50.00 worse off a month if our Essential User Allowance is stopped. With the redesign and clients in different areas we are being asked to complete more miles per month and so therefore will be even worse off.
‘Essential user’ is NOT a staff benefit- the clue is
in the title - essential! It's towards the cost of keeping a car
and using this for work purposes.
On reaching 10000 signatures a full council debate will be held. If the petition achieves between 2500 and 9999 signatures it will be referred to the appropriate Cabinet Committee.
This ePetition ran from 04/02/2011 to 16/02/2011 and has now finished.
785 people signed this ePetition.
The Council is continually looking for ways to identify and
reduce expenditure during the difficult financial times which we
are facing. All areas of cost and expenditure are subject to
scrutiny and the implications of budget cuts are understood. As
part of this, it is appropriate that travel expenditure is
considered.
The Council is aware of the concerns raised by many employees
around the review of travel provisions, in particular Essential
User Allowance and indeed the magnitude of this concern is
emphasised by the submission of the petition. This was part of the
consideration at the Council meeting. As a way of addressing the
concerns, the Council has agreed that there will be no financial
detriment for individuals who are current essential users and
continue to drive more than 2 ,500 business miles and are on grade
KR10 or below. This preserves and protects the current rate of
reimbursement and will help allay many of the concerns raised while
delivering cost savings albeit over a longer period if time.