OSWESTRY Town Council is set to consider whether it will take part in an employee Bike2Work scheme.

The Bike2Work Scheme is a government initiative allowing an employee to hire a bike and/or accessories through the council paying off the purchase price each month through the payroll.

In a report to the council, to be heard at Wednesday’s full town council meeting, finance officer Roger Dyke recommended the council look at the proposals.

His report said: “Cyclists can now get bikes, and relevant safety equipment, through the scheme over £1000.

“We think this is great and will help promote E-Bikes and widen the cycling community in general.”

He added: “The scheme is free of charge to set up and costs nothing to run.

“The employer makes the initial purchase and then leases the bike/equipment to the employee via a salary sacrifice, until the full amount is recovered.”

Councillors will make a decision whether to take part in the scheme, with at least three council staff agreeing to take part, in principle.

Meanwhile, councillors will discuss at the latest full town meeting whether to follow national recommendations to have a council-specific email.

As a result of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which took effect in May 2018, it is recommended that councillors have their own specific town council email account.

According to town clerk Arren Roberts, this will improve the council’s data protection compliance, obligations and responsibilities.

In his report before tonight’s meeting, he added: “The council is accountable for any business conducted involving personal data through any email account.

“In addition there are advantages from town councillors conducting business from a tc.gov.uk e-mail address; it provides confidence to the public/recipient and could help to separate Council life from personal life.”

Mr Roberts added that if adopted, all council business would be conducted through the council emails.

Councillors would be barred from forwarding sensitive material from their emails, unless it is press releases or documents already in the public domain.