Council workers have rejected proposals to cut the payout given to them for using their own cars at work.

Bradford Council wants to either almost halve the payout, to save around £1.9 million in taxpayers’ money a year, or phase it out entirely.

Currently, council staff who have to use their own car to get to and from jobs, such as social workers or highways engineers, get an average lump sum of £1,239 each year, as well as a mileage rate of 46.4p.

The payments mean a staff member travelling 5,000 miles a year for work would typically get a total payout of £3,764 per year on top of their salary – a sum described as “very generous” by Conservatives.

If the payout is kept, Bradford Council wants to limit it to staff doing 3,000 business miles or more a year, except in exceptional circumstances. Other staff would get a flat mileage rate of 45p.

Both proposals were rejected by Unison members at a meeting at City Hall today.

The meeting heard from a number of staff concerned that the move could force them into using public transport. Unison bosses are now seeking to negotiate a better deal with the Council.

Bradford Council declined to comment until the consultation with trade unions is over.

But Conservative group leader Councillor Glen Miller said the payouts were “very generous” and backed the changes. He said: “You can’t really expect the taxpayer of this district to fund everything.”