Contact: Jon Pittam, ext 7500

1 Summary

1.1 It is appropriate to review the car leasing scheme and its use in recruitment and retention initiatives prior to detailed consideration of the proposals from the pay and benefits review.

1.2 The following decision is sought

· approval of the broad principles of using cars to improve the recruitment and retention of staff as part of the pay and benefits review

· approval of the use of cars instead of cash in market supplements for the recruitment of professional consultants agreed by Cabinet on 12 July 2004

· details of the implementation of car leasing be further considered when the pay and benefits report is considered.

1 Reason(s)

1.1 Provision of cars may be a more attractive recruitment and retention device than cash pay where market supplements have already been approved, and would be an important flexible tool in the pay and benefits review.

1.2 The revitalisation of the car leasing scheme accords with the corporate strategy, in particular

· Aim 5 - improving services

· Aim 6 - developing councillors and staff

2 Other options considered and rejected

2.1 Not applicable.

3 Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or a member or officer consulted

3.1 Not applicable.

4 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

4.1 Not applicable.

5 Reason (s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

5.1 Not applicable.

1 Approved by: (signature) Date: (date of decision)

Councillor T K Thornber