Hard-up Leeds council spends £10,000 a year on SECOND limo for Mayor

The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Reverend Alan Taylor, said recently that he would be happy to use the bus but Leeds Council turned down his offer and instead pays for him to be driven to and from engagements in a Daimler, similar to cars used to take the Queen to functions.

The vehicle – with the number plate U1 – costs the council £10,775 a year to hire.

But the authority already owns a stretch Vauxhall Omega – number plate L6 EDS – which is barely used.

That car was previously used to take the Deputy Lord Mayor to functions. The position of deputy was abolished at the start of the financial year in an effort to save cash.

Now the Vauxhall is only used to take previous Lord Mayors to functions in place of the Lord Mayor when he cannot attend.

Robert Oxley of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “This is a farcical situation that is wasting taxpayers’ money. At a time when the council is making very necessary spending cuts it simply doesn’t make sense to pay extra for luxury travel that’s surplus to requirements.

“Local taxpayers will be angry that the council has doubled up on cars, regardless of whether or not they think the Lord Mayor is value for money in other ways.”

A council spokeswoman said: “Up until this May we have needed both vehicles as we have had a Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor, who regularly had duties to attend at the same time.

“From May 2011 the council agreed to pilot, for one year, not having a Deputy Lord Mayor and assessing what savings could be made. We are currently having both the current vehicles assessed mechanically and will know more once these have been made.”

In June Coun Reverend Taylor offered to take the bus to save money as the council looks to make £90m worth of cuts.

The offer was turned down and a council spokeswoman said at the time: “Given the important role he has to play in the city, it is more appropriate for him to arrive at the majority of events by car.”