CONCERNS have been raised that council staff could be travelling around the area in vehicles that are in a dangerous condition.

During a debate at a Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council meeting on a motion to push the UK Government to fund a £2,000 pay increase for public sector workers, travelling expenses was also brought up for discussion.

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Cllr Malcolm Day said: “Travel expenses are the same as they were 20 years ago.

“In view of the costs of fuel, there should be an increase from 45p per mile to 65p per mile.”

Earlier this month, Blaenau Gwent’s cabinet agreed to provide a £200 loan to help staff cope with the rising costs of fuel.

Cllr John Hill believed this loan could also be stretched to cover vehicle maintenance.

Cllr Hill said: “The mileage allowance is to cover fuel and maintenance

“What worries me is having to decide between food and heat or buying a couple of tyres for your car.

“I’m sure tyres are going to lose out.

“We have a duty of care to our employees that we help them and the loan system that was approved by cabinet could also work for buying things like tyres and brake pads.

“People are driving on the road in dangerous conditions.”

Council leader Cllr Steve Thomas told the meeting that he had discussed this with Welsh Government ministers who agreed to press the case with the UK Government treasury on this issue.

The motion for the £2,000 pay rise had been put forward by five Labour group councillors, Peter Baldwin, Malcolm Cross, Tommy Smith, David Wilkshire and Lisa Winnett.

Cllr Smith read out the motion which asked the council to: “Support the pay claim submitted by UNISON, GMB and Unite on behalf of council and school workers, for an increase of £2,000 or RPI (Retail Price Index) – whichever is greater.

They want to see the council write to the new UK Government chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi MP, to call for the local government pay increase to be funded from the Treasury.

Funding for local authorities in Wales comes from the Welsh Government, but the money does originally flow from the UK Government.

The motion does also point out to the that since 2010, the local government workforce has endured years of pay restraint.

They also point out that 900,000 local government jobs – more than 30 per cent of the workforce – have been lost since the start of the austerity programme launched by David Cameron’s government in 2010.

The motion said: “Many staff are having to make impossible choices between food, heating and paying for other essentials.”

Independent group deputy leader, Cllr Wayne Hodgins said:  “We fully support the motion.”

The motion was approved unanimously.