Issue - meetings

To receive a discussion paper on the uptake of salary sacrifice schemes.

IT WAS AGREED: That the Strategic Discussion Paper on the salary sacrifice schemes be noted.

REASON FOR DECISION: To enable the Committee to consider the discussion paper on salary sacrifice schemes.

Audio Recording – 1 hour 1 minute.

The Interim HR Services Manager presented the Strategic Discussion Paper on salary sacrifice schemes and drew attention to points including the following:

·                Salary Sacrifice schemes were used to attract new employees and provide benefits to existing employees;

·                They were based on the exchange of salary payments for a non-cash benefit, and had benefits for employees and the organisation in terms of tax and national insurance;

·                Various schemes had been run over the years and the number was now reduced due to changes in government policy;

·                The child care voucher scheme was closed to new applicants since the tax free childcare scheme was introduced;

·                A cycle to work scheme had been running in various forms since 2013, most recently opened in December 2019 with a small group of employees taking it up before office closures made the scheme redundant;

·                HolidayFlex was the newest scheme open which allowed employees to purchase additional annual leave up to an extra week, with 7 applicants during the trial period in August;

·                A second application window was opened for the new year with 10 applicants, 6 of whom had applied before;

·                It was hoped there would be more interest in HolidayFlex once travel restrictions had been lifted;

·                The annual leave rollover policy had reduced the need for employees to purchase additional leave;

·                Future options for salary sacrifice schemes included additional pension contributions and ultra-low emissions vehicles;

·                Administrative work was necessary to set up and run salary sacrifice schemes like making changes to the payroll, performing payroll checks, and encouraging up-take;

·                Levels of staff interest should be assessed before considering further schemes.

The following Members asked questions:

·                Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb

·                Councillor Keith Hoskins

In response to questions the Interim HR Services Manager advised:

·                All employees were eligible to apply for HolidayFlex during the application window but applications were subject to approval by team managers;

·                A survey on ultra-low emissions vehicles would take place later this year.

IT WAS AGREED: That the Strategic Discussion Paper on the salary sacrifice schemes be noted.

REASON FOR DECISION: To enable the Committee to consider the discussion paper on salary sacrifice schemes.