Call for help for volunteer drivers during credit crunch

12.00.00am GMT Mon 10th Nov 2008

Norfolk Lib Dems call for better allowances for volunteer drivers

A fresh call was made today for fairer fuel allowances to be paid to charity and volunteer workers in Norfolk who have been feeling the pinch during the credit crunch.

Across the country activists and politicians, including Norman Lamb MP, have already been trying to get action taken to address the financial difficulties volunteer drivers are facing.

Today Liberal Democrat councillor, Fran Pitt-Pladdy, issued a new challenge to decision-makers at Norfolk County Council to follow the example of Liberal Democrats in Somerset by raising mileage allowances for volunteer drivers.

Cllr Pitt-Pladdy, who is county councillor in the Harleston area, has been calling publicly for an increase in mileage allowances for volunteer drivers since 2006. Today he asked the County Council's political leaders again if they plan to respond to concerns from voluntary organisations by increasing fuel allowances in the next financial year. His refreshed call comes after some 400 volunteer drivers operating from Hellesdon withdrew their services in May this year in protest at the low level of allowances and worries about regulations.

Mr Pitt-Pladdy was informed by the County Council's Cabinet that a review will be undertaken in spring next year and a decision will be taken at that point about whether or not to increase the mileage allowances for volunteers.

Commenting on the response, Cllr Pitt-Pladdy said:

"Volunteer drivers play an essential role in helping people access the services they need and they deserve to be properly reimbursed for their travel costs. I can understand that the Cabinet wants to make sure it's balancing their needs against those of council tax payers as a whole but I worry that if the Council fails to increase mileage allowances for volunteer drivers, vital services in the county could literally come to a standstill.

"The Council needs to ensure when it comes to look at mileage allowances next year that volunteer drivers are not forced to give up as a result of escalating costs.

"There is already evidence that this is possible. In Liberal Democrat-run Somerset County Council the volunteers' mileage allowance rate has recently been increased to 45 pence a mile after consultation with volunteers.

"At 36.5p per mile, Norfolk County Council's own allowances are well below this level and I hope that local drivers are not made to wait too long before their payment rates catch up with other parts of the country."