Looking After Our Pool Cars

Our pool car scheme is an important part of how we work across the Vale, helping staff get to meetings, sites and services efficiently. The vehicles are there to make life easier and to ensure we can continue delivering for residents, so it’s vital that they’re kept in good condition and ready for use. We’ve received some recent feedback about difficulties with vehicles not being available when needed. A number of these issues come down to small but important things that, if we all take a moment to do, will keep the cars on the road for everyone’s benefit.

Charging Electric Vehicles

One of the biggest concerns is around charging electric vehicles. If an electric car is returned without being charged, it often means the next booking can’t go ahead. Please take a few minutes to watch the refresher video below, which shows the correct charging process and helps avoid problems.

Reporting Damage

We’ve also had instances where damage to vehicles has not been reported. This means faults aren’t spotted in time, and sometimes cars have to be taken off the road altogether. If you notice any damage, however small, please report it straight away so it can be fixed quickly.

Refuelling Diesel Cars

For our diesel vehicles, please make sure to refuel before returning the car. Running low on fuel is inconvenient for the next driver and can delay essential journeys.

Keeping Vehicles Clean

One of the most frequent complaints is about the state vehicles are being left in. Food and drink are being abandoned in cars such as McDonald’s bags, banana skins, pasties left on the back seat, grease from packets and empty coffee mugs. Not only is this unpleasant for the next person, but it also creates hygiene and odour problems. Please make sure all rubbish is removed when you leave a vehicle and keep it tidy for colleagues.

Working Together

By following these simple steps, we can keep the pool cars clean, safe and ready for everyone who needs them. The scheme only works when each of us plays our part, and the more care we take, the more reliable and useful this shared resource will be. Thank you to everyone who is already helping to keep the cars in good condition — your efforts really do make a difference.