I am writing to make an open government request for all the information to which I am entitled under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000. Please send me the following information retained by your local authority in respect of the following areas:
Pool car usage data for the period 2015/16 and 2016/17
1. How many pool cars, either leased or owned, does your council have?
This information is not held centrally; however, we can confirm that there are two car pools which have the following cars:
Highway and Traffic Management Fleet: 64 cars
Parking Enforcement fleet: 22 cars
2. What is the total annual spend on pool cars?
For the Highway and Traffic Management Fleet we can confirm that the annual spend in 2016/17 was £130,223
For the Parking Enforcement fleet we can confirm that the annual spend in 2016/17 was £31,130
3. What is the total annual miles of pool cars?
This information is not held by Devon County Council but it is estimated to be 4,000-5,000 per car.
4. How many regular pool car users are there?
For the Highway and Traffic Management Fleet it is estimated that there are 62.
For the Parking Enforcement fleet there are 52.
5. How many casual pool car users are there?
For the Highway and Traffic Management Fleet it is estimated that there are 13.
For the Parking Enforcement fleet there are none.
6. What is the overall cost per mile of pool cars?
Because the total annual miles is not held (with reference to question 3 above) and can only be estimated, this information is therefore not held.
Staff car for work usage data
We understand local authorities can maintain and attribute data to more than one category of pool car user. For example, essential pool car users in receipt of a lump sum for mileage, pool car users, and casual users. For the period 2015/16 and 2016/17, in each of your local authority’s defined categories:
7. How many council staff use their own car during the course of the day to carry out council work?
2015/16: 4,827
2016/17: 4,377
8. How many miles were travelled by staff in their own car on council activity?
2015/16: 6,160,493.62
2016/17: 5,874,321.89
9. What was the average cost per mile reimbursed to users?
2015/16: £0.43
2016/17: £0.435
10. What was the target cost per mile?
No target is set by Devon County Council.
11. How much did your council spend in 2015/16 and 2016/17 on reimbursing staff for miles travelled for council activity in their own cars?
2015/16: £2,663,734.84
2016/17: £2,546,086.82
Operational policies
12. Please provide the name and/or job title of the person responsible for developing and monitoring policies on employee car usage in your council.
The head of Human Resources is Jacky Wilson.
13. What policies, working documents or plans does your council have in place to reduce volume and/or cost per mile of usage by pool and/or staff cars?
Please find attached the link to guidance for staff which includes car sharing:
https://inside.devon.gov.uk/task/business-travel/driving/
14. What policy documents does the council hold on general car usage policy and associated targets and metrics?
Please find attached the link to business travel policy:
https://inside.devon.gov.uk/task/business-travel/business-travel-policy/
We can confirm that targets are not held by Devon County Council with regard to business travel.
15. Is your local authority pursuing new methods to address major issues or needs around car usage in your local authority? If yes, please provide the supporting documentation.
We are about to commence conversations with Trade Unions regarding business travel.
Commuting
16. What is the average number of staff arriving to work in offices or other shared places of work of the council on a weekday?
Devon County Council do not hold this information. This is because Devon County Council staff have access to over 3000 workstations across Devon.
17. Of that number, how many staff on average drive their own car to that office?
Please see our response to question 16 above.
18. Does your council have any carpool or similar commuting schemes in place?
Devon County Council has two Co-Car vehicles and four Electric Cars. These cars can be booked by staff for business use.
19. If so, what incentives or compensation is offered to encourage staff to take advantage of these?
There are no particular incentives to use the vehicles described in the response to question 18.
However, as a large employer, the Council recognises the impact that staff travel to work can have on the transport network and environment and as such we have a Travel Plans which sets out a strategy for the encouragement of sustainable modes of travel. The Travel Plan for County Hall includes charging for staff parking and requiring staff not to drive to County Hall on 2 out of 5 working days. The funds generated by this Travel Plan enables incentives to increase staff travelling by alternative modes to the car, e.g. by cycle, public transport or on foot. These incentives include discounted bus travel, cycle mileage and the option to join a cycle to work scheme.