Staff and councillors at Nottinghamshire County Council are to get the chance to lease electric and hybrid cars through a salary sacrifice scheme.
Members of the council's personnel committee greeted the scheme with enthusiasm and said that in the current high fuel price situation, it was a "good idea".
The council will be the first in the country to allow councillors to waive their allowances to pay towards leasing a vehicle.
The authority says that while the scheme will be a benefit to employees and members, it will also allow the council "to have some control over its business-related emissions for those who take up the scheme".
In May 2021, the council declared a climate emergency and it is felt by officers that the car leasing scheme will fit the aim of trying to reduce carbon emissions.
It works by the councillor or member of staff agreeing to a reduction in their gross salary in return for a car and the associated services within the scheme such as maintenance and insurance.
Cars can be chosen on an online portal through the leasing company.
Councillor Johno Lee (Balderton) said when the scheme was first thought of petrol was not approaching £2 a litre. He said: " Look at the situation now and with the situation in the Ukraine. "I like this scheme because it gives everyone options. Congratulations to the staff who have worked on this.
Fellow councillor Sheila Place (Blyth and Harworth) said she welcomed the scheme and added: "I think it is a really good thing".
Councillors were told they and staff would be responsible for putting their own charging points in at home if they wanted them but that are increasing numbers of points being installed around the county with two at the county council offices.
Leases can last from 24 months through to 48 hours and if a car has to be returned before the end of the term there are elements of protection in place which are arranged on an individual basis.
Committee chairman Gordon Wheeler said there would be plenty of information available and people needed to make sure the option was "right for them".
The recommendation to adopt the scheme was carried unanimously by the committee.
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