Council Mayor gets brand new limousine

10.20.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 22nd Apr 2009

Mayoral Limmo

Some residents may be pleased to know that Reigate & Banstead Council have just taken delivery of a brand new three litre Jaguar limousine for the Mayor. But I hope not many.

The Council are currently in the midst of tracking down the location of £15M of our money in the vagaries of the Icelandic banking system, and we still don't know if it will ever return. Even if it does, we will have lost all that not inconsiderable interest on the investment.

While all that is going on, our caring Conservative Council has been making massive savings of over £2M, by cutting back on the funding of local community services.

Then to go and buy an extravagant £50K, highly fuel inefficient, 200 horsepower, 140mph, 3 Litre top of the range limousine, with personalised number plates.

That's a real slap in the face for those residents who have had their services cut.

When I asked the admiring Tory Councillors whether they felt that it sent the wrong message, I was proudly told that it was a good deal. "The Council sold the last personalised number plates, so it only cost £7K", they said.

Cllr Steve Kulka said "This is so wrong in so many ways". This Conservative dominated Council may have lost £15M to the Icelandic Banks. Even if they get some of it back, they will have lost the enormous amount of interest due. They are justifying cut backs on the regular funding of local services for that reason.

At the end of last year, I specifically asked the Council to consider a more fuel efficient mayoral transport when the opportunity arose. They could have traded in the last limo for a cheaper and more fuel efficient car, which as well as setting a really good example, would have enabled them to use the extra cash saved, on local services. Instead, they've bought an 200 horsepower, 140mph limmo, with almost the lowest rating on fuel economy. 26mpg (F rating)".