Green drive: Harrogate council to launch new scheme to get employees in electric cars

Councillor Phil Ireland, Harrogate Borough Council's cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability.

The authority will launch a salary sacrifice scheme which will allow staff to lease a new car using their wages before tax, national insurance and pension deductions have been made.

It comes after the council last year became a minority by voting against a move to declare a climate emergency - instead opting for a carbon reduction strategy.

The strategy included a proposal for a salary sacrifice scheme for low emission vehicles which last night won the backing of senior councillors.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting, councillor Phil Ireland, cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability, said: "The increase in use of electric vehicles supports our carbon reduction strategy, our emerging ultra-low emission strategy, our air quality action plan and our strategic transport priorities work.

"It will also provide cost savings for Harrogate Borough Council in terms of national insurance savings and pension contributions.

"The policy is also in line with the original notice of motion on measures to address the climate emergency currently being addressed by the Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition."

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It is the council's aim to achieve a net zero-carbon economy by 2038 and it has outlined eight priority areas. These are council buildings, Harrogate Convention Centre, staff transport, working practices, energy efficiency, sustainable transport, working with businesses and influencing eco-friendly development.

The council has also set up the Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition - a group of businesses, public sector organisations and voluntary groups which promote carbon reduction activities.

There has, however, been criticism of the coalition for a lack of progress which led to the launch of Harrogate District Climate Action Network (HD-CAN) - a campaign group which wants to see more decisive action and public engagement in response to the climate crisis.

When it launched in November last year, a spokesperson for HD-CAN said while it recognised some of the environmental efforts made by the council, it was "very concerned" about the progress made and that "swift and radical" changes were needed.

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter