Council staff are making changes to their working arrangements to save more than £1m.

Staff perks like free parking are set to go, and annual pay increments will be frozen for next year, as Sutton Council looks to save money and protect frontline jobs and services.

The council has to save money after Government cuts to its budget as part of its austerity measures to reduce the country's defecit.

The council has been negotiating with the trades unions since May. The result of a ballot of union members announced last week, showed overwhelming support the proposals.

The changes will come into force from April next year. They include pay reviews which will see annual pay increments frozen for next year, staff who need to drive for work will no longer receive an annual lump sum payment towards vehicle maintenance.

But low-paid staff, whose full-time equivalent earnings are below £21,000 per annum, will be paid a lump sum of £250 (pro-rata for part time staff) in April 2012, as the council recognises the impact on low income employees.

Free parking for staff who drive to work will be axed, apart from disabled people or for those who need to drive for work.

Councillor John Drage, Executive Member for Finance and Efficiency at Sutton Council, said: “This is a great result for both staff and residents. It means we can save over £1m next year from our staff costs and take some of the sting out of the budget cuts.