AMBER Valley Council is re-educating its staff in a bid to make its fleet more environmentally friendly. An environmental strategy was drawn up by the Derbyshire borough in January 1999 which saw its fleet decrease from 162 to 147, including 10 liquefied petroleum gas vehicles, electric pool van and an electric bike.

Environmental chief Bob Pick, who put the plan together with fleet manager Paul Milliship, said: 'As far as I am concerned the best environmental policy is operating one less car. In addition to concentrating on the fleet side I am trying to make it fun and exciting for our staff to use other means of transport than their cars. We are looking at using scooters and bikes now.'

Most of the vehicles on the fleet, which is supplied by leasing company TLS, are diesels which run on city diesel but the authority is constantly looking at clean fuels and has its own LPG refuelling site. A driver training group has been set up to improve driving standards and fuel efficiency.