What an Audi-acity!

STYLISH . . . the new Audi A8 used on council business

Rumpus over new car being a ‘civic taxi’

Oldham’s Labour council group leader says the town’s new Mayoral car should not be used as a “civic taxi”.

Councillor Jim McMahon says the leased long-wheelbase Audi A8 was used by council leader Howard Sykes to travel alone, chauffeur driven, to a recent meeting of Greater Manchester council leaders.

Councillor McMahon said he had no problem with the car, which would cost £57,000 to buy, being used for the Mayor and Mayoress on civic business.

But he added: “What I take exception to is people in Oldham Council using it as a personal chauffeur-driven service.

“People should not be using it effectively as a chauffeur-driven taxi, especially when we are taking away £500,000 to transport vulnerable people to day care. You have you ask yourself how sympathetic this is?”

But Councillor Sykes hit back, pointing out that the joint leadership meeting approved the new car in November.

He added: “All leaders agreed to this proposal — it is a bit rich now having a whinge about it more than four months later.

“The fine detail of the vehicle’s use was agreed by the three group leaders some time later. In his alternative budget, Councillor McMahon also agreed to cut transport costs.

“There appears to be quite a lot of agreeing and saying one thing and then doing something else at the moment.”

The car has been leased by the council to save money.

The old Mayoral Volvo — ABU 1 — bought for £22,390 in 2004, costs £5,500 a year to maintain, is out of warranty and becoming increasingly costly to run.

A council spokesman said: “After consultation with all party leaders and agreement with their respective groups, a decision was taken to set up a new civic car arrangement.

“This is to enable the Mayor, council leader, and — where appropriate — the chief executive and other council dignitaries, to use this vehicle when representing the authority on official business.

“These new procedures are also more environmentally sustainable, allowing the car to be used by several civic dignitaries at once, thus avoiding the potential for parties journeying separately and sustaining more expensive travelling costs.”