Scheme encourages council staff to get on their bikes
Warwickshire County Council has launched its new bicycle salary sacrifice scheme enabling more and more employees to travel to work on bicycles.
The scheme is a partnership between the Council and various cycle retailers in the county. It will enable employees to buy a bike on a monthly basis from the County Council, allowing them to make considerable savings.
The council buys the bike at the outset with employees repaying on a monthly basis via an agreed sum taken directly from salaries. After a year of monthly payments, there is the option to purchase the bike at an agreed fee, which is approximately one further month’s payment.
Endorsed by the government, this scheme avoids the need to pay VAT and staff do not pay tax or NI on the monthly payments. This will mean that for staff in the standard tax rate band, there is a saving of around 40% on the retail price.
Nicola Small, sustainable travel project officer, said: “We are looking at ways where we can encourage staff to use means other than the car to travel to work.
“This scheme reduces car usage so cuts down on carbon emissions, eases traffic for those who still have to use the car and frees up parking spaces. Many people, not only those who buy a bike through the scheme, will enjoy benefits and we hope that many of our staff will take this opportunity to travel to work by bike.”
Further advantages to staff were noted by Julie Horsley, healthy workforce co-ordinator. She said: “It is great news that we are looking to encourage staff to cycle to work and to and from workplaces. It’s sustainable transport and a great work-out all-in-one. When we cycle regularly, it can have significant health benefits and supports our well being. I would love to see as many staff as possible take this offer up.”