East Riding Council installs tracking devices in vehicles in bid to drive down fuel costs
A MOVE to install tracking devices in all vehicles operated by East Riding Council has been branded a "snooper's charter" .
Council officials say the new system will save the authority about £300,000 a year in reduced fuel and insurance costs.
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'Big brother gone mad': Six-hundred council vehicles are being fitted with tracking devices. Picture: Jerome Ellerby
But some council staff claim managers are already abusing it by checking on their every move.
One employee, who did not wish to be named, said: "It's just a glorified snooper's charter that gives people the opportunity to question everything.
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"I already know of one person who has been challenged over stopping for a toilet break.
"It's Big Brother gone mad."
The tracking devices are being installed in all types of council vehicle, from cars and light vans to gritting lorries.
Dave Waudby, head of infrastructure and facilities at East Riding Council, said: "The council is currently in the process of implementing a tracking system within its fleet of about 600 vehicles as part of the authority's corporate transformation project.
"The system will provide a range of benefits to the council and the taxpayer by reducing fuel costs and improving service delivery at a time when financial pressures on local government budgets are resulting in job losses and service reductions.
"Monitoring vehicles using tracking systems is not uncommon, with councils across the UK using such systems as well as large commercial operators, such as haulage firms, prominent supermarket chains, utility companies and the Royal Mail."
He said the move would generate significant savings for the authority.
He said: "It is anticipated the system will see the council save about 10 per cent on fuel costs, an estimated saving of £300,000 per annum, as well as complying with its operators' license requirements and reducing insurance costs.
"The council has consulted with both staff and unions throughout the implementation of the tracking system, including demonstrations, and has had a positive reaction from operational staff and unions."
In a statement, the council declined to confirm the cost of installing the devices or identify the contractor involved in supplying them.
It said the matter was commercially sensitive information.
However, a similar recent initiative involving 400 vehicles at Nottingham County Council cost £315,000 to install and lease.
Hull City Council has fitted similar tracking devices to all its refuse collection lorries over the past two years working with technology group Bartec.
A total of 43 bin lorries currently have the tracking equipment installed.
A council spokesman said the full tracking system was due go live in the next few weeks.
It will allow council officials to pinpoint where bin crews are if they receive complaints from the public about missed collections via the council's call centre.
Comments
by felicity69
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 4:52AM
“All council resources should be monitored and managed closely as every private business has to. This is why Hull City Council are in such a mess. Over the years I've heard of council workers running 'guvvie' businesses using council materials and council time to do it in. Council workers can only moan if Hull City Council do something extreme (highly unlikely) that isn't already being done in the private sector. Think yourself lucky that you've still got jobs and that you've had a doddle of a time for too many years. I feel sorry for the majority of hard working, conscientious council workers that get tarnished with the same brush.”
by democracy_now
Saturday, September 29 2012, 10:41AM
“What they are saying is that they do not trust the people they employ, though in any case this is more about public relations that saving money. They state that they will save about £300k, if they where serious about saving big money then (a) the people at the top (Parnaby and his cronies) would take a pay cut (which would save more than £300k) and (b) Greater transparency on how they select and pay external contractors they use (we could be taking millions here).”
by MimiTheDJ
Saturday, September 29 2012, 12:40AM
“If anyone's afraid of being watched perhaps they aren't putting a full days graft in eh?”
by ispy3
Friday, September 28 2012, 11:04PM
“There's a Hull City Council van often in the car park at Total Fitness, Willerby the staff say its
Used by the DWP..they certainly use East Riding trucks, vans etc. They certainly use TF,
and all other sports centers to spy on people but keep it to yourself!”
by bt13jz
Friday, September 28 2012, 9:45PM
“I cant believe that they don't already have trackers. Reduces insurance & theft of vehicles. It can show who was driving and flags up speeding. It would stop employees popping home or to the scrap yard with any 'waste'.
No more unauthorised / extended breaks at a cost to the tax payer, journeys. Those who complain have something to hide.”
by beverleybard
Friday, September 28 2012, 8:47PM
“If this results in savings in council spending then it must be welcomed by everyone - except those who are taking advantage of the system for their own ends.”
by jezhull
Friday, September 28 2012, 8:14PM
“I think it's a reasonable idea. I've seen these vehicles parked up all over the place at all times of the day and the drivers having a snooze at our expense. If it keeps them on their toes, then so be it”
by jobsearcher
Friday, September 28 2012, 7:53PM
“I drive a vehicle with a tracker fitted. I do not have a problem as I abide by the rules and do not abuse the vehicle.”
by MICKSYKES
Friday, September 28 2012, 7:49PM
“by dannydarko222
CRACKING COMMENT!
The employee's complaining about trackers would be the first to complain, strike and march against redundancies if EYCC had to make financial savings due to 'inneficient' departments, trackers can and WILL save massive amounts of money (If the bosses and managers act upon their findings) and employee's allow them to do so, if the trackers lead to 'civil unrest' and the 'natives revolt' and anarchy is allowed to rule then the employee's are very simply undermining their own jobs.”
by dannydarko222
Friday, September 28 2012, 7:17PM
“here in the real world (private sector) the company vehicles have been tracked for over 10yrs,”