A NEW two-year deal has been agreed between Suffolk County Council and vehicle management firm Fleetlease to highlight the benefits of personal leasing. Launched at the Fleet Motor Show, it continues a two-year partnership between the council and Fleetlease and will include ride and drive days for staff to sample cars.

Council workers enjoy benefits including preferential rates for the lease or purchase of vehicles through Fleetlease, with monthly payments coming straight from employees' salaries, sparing the authority administration costs. Of the council's 180-strong fleet, 48 are run under personal contracts.

Keith Vincent, Fleetlease's personal leasing manager, said: 'Fleetlease has operated a private driver scheme with the council for two years. As it has proved so popular, we have decided to step up the arrangement by introducing the ride and drive events in June.'