Director Stewart Whyte said: ‘The challenges facing the entire public sector and employers’ groups across the spectrum are highly significant as they seek to cut costs.

‘For fleet operations, the Spending Review has outlined that the Government is looking to cut spending on travel policies by £100 million a year through the implementation of standard guidance.

‘ACFO can provide a framework to help Government departments, local authorities, NHS Trusts and other public sector organisations to implement best practice. We have already produced documents illustrating best practice in several areas of fleet management. These apply to both public and private sector fleets.

‘Changes to travel policies embracing vehicle use, improved journey planning, changes to vehicle selection criteria, fuel use monitoring, risk management, employee mileage claims etc. can be made constructively to ensure support from staff.

‘ACFO is aware of a number of public sector organisations that have already made significant changes in their fleet and travel policies in at least some key areas of operation.

‘Significant financial savings can be made relatively quickly and easily without impacting on the efficiency and effectiveness of organisations and the work that they undertake.’