Practices: North Cornwall provides a volunteering scheme for staff which gives them paid time off to do volunteer work as long as they offer some of their own time as well. They also run an extreme sports project to engage disadvantaged young people in non-mainstream activities like surfing, mountaineering etc. The chief executive attends all staff briefings and personally leads on all major issues. He also hosts regular coffee mornings to interact with staff. While 85 per cent of the council's training budget is devolved to the control of directors and managers to allow staff to receive sponsorship for a wide array of personal learning to support their career aspirations. Investment is also considered for non-work related training activities. The council is highly supportive to people gaining work-related and professional qualifications and provides many opportunities for staff to progress their careers internally through secondments, project work, and promotions. Pay and benefits: Flexible working is open for all staff to be able to request — not just those staff that have a statutory right to request and a wide variety of options are provided. The options that are utilised the most are flexi time, staggered hours and job sharing. They also provide employees with at least two years' service, unpaid career breaks of up to a year. Childcare vouchers and subsidised sports facilities are available to all as are giving up smoking courses and a health cash plan. Some employees are eligible for free sports facilities. For more information on 'The Times Best Councils to Work For 2007' list please visit http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/career_and_jobs/specials/best_councils/