WARRINGTON Borough Council says the mayoral car is being leased at a cost of £3,462 a year – with costs to maintain it being ‘minimal’.

A TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) investigation has revealed that councils spent £2,689,959 on ‘luxury mayoral limos’ between 2019 and 2022.

The investigation claimed that Warrington Borough Council spent £10,767, in leasing costs, on a Hyundai Ioniq electric premium SE.

The council has been asked for a comment on the issue – and whether it disputes the information.

Council chief executive Steven Broomhead said: “The mayoral car is used by the mayor and deputy mayor to travel to and from engagements, with the vast majority of these being within the borough.

“The vehicle lease began in June 2021 and costs £3,462 per year, which is significantly lower than previous years. Further costs to maintain the car are minimal as it is fully electric and charges at low cost.

“Last year, we made a policy decision to have an electric vehicle for the mayor, having previously leased a hybrid model, due to it producing zero emissions and being one of the cheapest electric vehicles to run and maintain.”

The TPA, says, despite councils declaring a climate emergency, ‘only around one third of the 162 councils with cars were using green vehicles’.

It is calling on local mayors to ‘ditch limos and save money’ when attending events by using their own methods of transport, public transport or ‘at the very least to stop buying luxury cars’.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “These luxury mayoral limos represent the height of hypocrisy.

“Some travel will of course be necessary as a mayor, but councils cannot claim to be cash-strapped if they are still paying for Teslas and Jags to ferry local bigwigs about.

“With many councils no longer leasing or buying cars, all other local authorities should follow suit and encourage civic leaders to use cheaper forms of transport.”