Earlier this month I proposed that the county council look into organising a discount card scheme for pensioners across the county, based on the already existing bus pass. The Labour Group jumped on the idea from a height. They said it would be too expensive at a time of cuts - despite the fact that it would be the traders who paid for the discounts under the scheme!

Today I got the county council staff magazine and was intrigued to read on the front cover: “New health and fitness discount scheme launched”. Apparently council employees will enjoy around an 18% discount on a single peak or off-peak membership at Durham County Leisure venues.

And how will that be organised? According to the magazine,

To claim the discount council employees will need to present their most recent payslip.

So why is presenting a payslip cheaper and easier than presenting a bus pass? And who’s footing the bill for this scheme?