Mayor's motoring cost £50,000 last year (From Surrey Comet)

Mayor's motoring cost £50,000 last year

4:50pm Sunday 12th February 2012 in Kingston By Clare Buchanan

Nearly £50,000 of taxpayers’ money was spent driving the mayor to official engagements in the past year.

A freedom of information request by the Surrey Comet revealed that cash-strapped Kingston Council, which leases the Mercedes E220 diesel saloon, coughed up a total of £49,993 for the car in the 2010-11 financial year.

The largest cost was the mayor’s attendant and chauffeur, who was paid £34,564, and the cost of relief drivers, which was £7,615, during the same time period.

A council spokesman said the car was leased on competitive terms, is only used for official duties and that the mayor’s attendant has other responsibilities as well as driving.

Other costs included were £1,083 on fuel, £339 on insurance and £6,392 on the lease, which was renewed last year and will continue until mid-April 2012. Councillor Vicki Harris said: “I think a lot of people appreciate it if a mayor comes to their event. I think a lot of people like to see the mayor there with his chains and all that goes with it.

“But at the same time maybe it’s going one step too far if the mayor turns up on a push bike – it has got to be taken in perspective.”

The council first chose to lease the mayoral Mercedes-Benz, over an eco-friendly Lexus, Chrysler 300c, for a three-year period in April 2008.

At the time, council leader Derek Osborne said the Lexus did not portray the right image, had very little boot space and was better than the previous Rover 75 and Golf, which kept breaking down.

However, former mayor Councillor Dennis Doe said the Mercedes was too narrow and forced his Worshipfulness, complete with chains of office and robes, to sit in the back seat.

The unique RBK1 numberplate was gifted to the council and is now believed to be quite valuable.

Nearby Epsom and Ewell Council ditched their mayoral Rolls Royce for a Skoda Superb, which will cost £3,202 per year, including hire and fuel, in a bid to save £25,000 in November last year.

Epsom and Ewell mayor Councillor Sheila Carlson also drives herself to many events and has had chauffeur time limited to 18 hours a week.

A Kingston Council spokesman said: “The issue of sponsoring the mayor has not been seriously discussed in the past, but consideration has been given to seeking sponsorship for the car.”