COUNCIL officers were this week given extra encouragement to share cars to council meetings — and save tax payers money.
West Devon Borough Council's finance sub-committee voted to increase the passenger mileage rate from 1p to 3p a mile, back-dated to the start of April last year.
The supplement, recognising the benefits to the environment of sharing transport, was introduced in 1998. The rate was originally set at 1p a mile to avoid incurring a tax penalty.
The DETR allowed an increase to members last year and a dispensation was finally given by the Inland Revenue so this new amount may be paid tax-free.
The taxman has also allowed the same amount to be paid to council staff — as a sop to the length of time it has taken them to come to this decision, according to Neil Williams of the borough treasurer's office.
A total of just over 11,000 miles were shared by officers during the period April to December 2000.
Councillors, by contrast managed only 984 shared miles out of a total of almost 25,000 travelled on council business, although Mr Williams said some councillors did not claim travel expenses at all and others did not claim shared mileage.
The cost implications are said to be minimal, but any increase in passenger mileage would be expected to be offset by a decrease in the cost of solitary mileage — members and officers can claim 48.5p per mile for medium-sized cars.
Drivers will be able to claim 3p per mile for the first passenger and an additional 2p each for up to two more passengers.