Tax payers foot £68,000 bill for mayor's luxury car

According to figures published by the Tax Payers' Alliance, Cheshire East Council has spent more money than any other local authority in the North West on a mayoral car.

The Tax Payers' Alliance sent a Freedom of Information request to all 418 local authorities in the country, asking how many cars they had for the use of their mayor. A total of 372 local authorities responded to the FOI request, of which 207 spent money on mayoral cars.

Cheshire East Council is one of three local authorities in the UK to own a Bentley Continental Flying Spur which is used by the mayor for ceremonial duties.

The total amount spent on this vehicle between April 2015 and March 2018 was £67,980, which covers the purchase price of £55,800, £10,664 on fuel and £1,516.5 for maintenance.

At the time of publication we are awaiting a comment from Cheshire East Council.

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Cheshire East Council
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Nick Jones
Friday 24th August 2018 at 10:35 pm
A ‘Semi Green’ New Lexus 450H Hybrid is iro £5OK, or for £2K more than this exorbitent £68K waste of our tax dollars , a full-on Electric Tesla S iro £70k, and a Green TX Electric Black Cab is iro £55k.
All with significantly less running costs than a Bentley and with considerable residual value after 3 years use. Lease deals are also available at considerably less cost than this paid waste.
BUT.. Who on earth (or indeed CEC ) in their right minds, sanctioned this abhorrent Waste of Taxpayers funds ? Particularly to a 3rd rate office of no importance, Who When Where and Why ? and what was the actual cost including any Chauffeur / Overtime etc. There is no shame here obviously, no civic duty considered to residents in seeking more affordable methods of travel.
I would like to know if this vehicle was used to pick up the very unimportant person from their home address as that would be a misuse of the vehicle incurring a taxable payment on the user as it was not starting duty from The Palace of CEC shire
Whilst £68K would buy an awful lot of taxi rides, it would certainly buy a heck of a lot more donkey rides , which would be far more appropriate for these charlatans, frittering our cash like confetti
Terry Roeves
Saturday 25th August 2018 at 7:57 am
Not seen this car in Wilmslow. Maybe they visited once, had trouble parking and never returned.

Anyway IF it was new, then CEC got a good deal from a Cheshire world class, much respected, automotive manufacturer. Would be really shocking if it had been an import, or if any employee cars are imports.

There are far more serious issues with our frequently inept, uncaring Council.
Terry Roeves
Saturday 25th August 2018 at 11:02 am
Nick - ask Michael Jones.
Peter Davenport
Wednesday 29th August 2018 at 7:57 pm
What amazes me, is the fact that Ches E will not lay a bus on for people, ie pensioners and others to go to the WW1 celebrations at Tatton Park, as quote "no money". No one says it should be free, but how does one get to Tatton Park on a Sunday? Train Macclesfield to Stockport, change to get to Knutsford, and walk nearly 2.5 miles. They certainly have varied ideas of how to care for the elderly tax payers. The small subsidy needed would not amount to much with organisation
Dave Cash
Thursday 30th August 2018 at 12:58 am
CEC should be promoting/buying/supporting only pure electric cars, buses and delivery vehicles.
If the Mayor decides he wants a Bentley Continental Flying Spur, he can buy one and we will pay him 40p/mile for official engagements only.
David Nelson
Thursday 30th August 2018 at 8:41 am
Disgusting and shameful and wasteful. I'm appalled.
Michael Roberts
Thursday 30th August 2018 at 9:59 am
Appalling but not at all surprised, same old story tax payers money, it doesn’t matter
Cec just gets worse!!
John Harries
Thursday 30th August 2018 at 1:12 pm
Yet another example of empire building, 'it's not my money' thinking ('thinking' in this context is a compliment!), arrogant, self seeking...
We've got ourselves yet another token and probably quite unneccessary functionary post that somehow or other has justified the retention of a dedicated vehicle (no mention of the driver/garaging and insurance costs) when the requirement is effectively just a taxi service; there are so many limo. services available in the area at what must be a fraction of the cost.
Kick 'em Out next year.
Pete Taylor
Thursday 30th August 2018 at 6:34 pm
If only CEC had that amount of money purchasing a 3yr old Flying Spur; instead they leased one. At disposal time they had nothing to show on the balance sheet, rather than a depreciating asset!
Jon Williams
Friday 31st August 2018 at 6:24 am
Lovely car and "Made in Cheshire" money well spent
Marcia McGrail
Monday 3rd September 2018 at 8:39 am
What arrogance! Who holds this mis-use of public money to account? If us mere tax paying mortals had dared to fritter away breath taking sums of public money like that, it would be off to the cells pretty darn quick ---- shame our insipid laws side with the crims/amorals, isn't it?