A SHAKE up of town hall travel allowances could leave some workers £1,000 out of pocket for doing their jobs. Union bosses claim workers are up in arms about the wide-ranging review. And the council's top brass has been accused of 'double standards' after a senior delegation travelled by first class train to London this week. A Town Hall source told the Citizen: "We're being told by the management to tighten our belts and make cut backs but they don't think twice about the cost of travelling first class. They should practice what they preach."

The review suggests workers currently regarded as essential car users be switched to a lower-rated casual allowance and that employees should be charged for parking in council car parks.

Critics of the review have highlighted a number of areas they are unhappy with:

a potential loss of income of up to £1,000 a year for some workers

inequality of the policy (ordinary employees facing the brunt of the cut backs)

workers on council business travelling on expensive public transport

car park charges for council employees could mean more workers using their cars to get value for money.

A Unison spokesman said: "It's true that these proposals have been put to our members and they are not very happy at all. They feel they are being asked to subsidise the authority to carry out its work. They are also very angry that senior officers and councillors have escaped the worst of the proposals. Why should lower-paid and part-time workers be punished financially for carrying out their duties?"

Chief Executive, David Corker, said the proposals had to go before the personnel service group next week where they would be looked at in detail.

He said: "It's not a financial exercise but a green initiative requested by the Environmental committee. The Council wants its employees to be 'green' employees and as a big local employer that's what we are trying to do."

Asked about the council delegation's first class train travel to London he said: "I can confirm we travelled first class as is procedure."

Workers' representatives will express their concerns to councillors at a meeting next week.

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