Council admits value of Lord Mayor position "impossible to quantify" as £300,000 spending revealed

[dutchman]

A Telegraph investigation exposed the cost of the post



Coventry City Council has admitted it can’t demonstrate how much money the Lord Mayor’s position generates for the city.

A Telegraph investigation revealed yesterday that the post has cost taxpayers well in excess of £300,000 over the past five years .

During that time, there has been no reduction to the position’s budget while residents will have been forced to endure £119m of cuts between 2010 and 2020.

The ceremonial position is rotated among serving councillors on an annual basis and is designed to help promote the city and encourage investment.

The Telegraph asked if the council could continue to justify the spend on the Lord Mayor’s position in the wake of such savage cuts to services.

We also asked if rules could be changed to allow the position of “Coventry’s first citizen” to be awarded to someone who isn’t an elected councillor already receiving an allowance from the taxpayer.

A Coventry City Council spokesperson said: “Constitutionally the position of Lord Mayor must be an elected member.

“As First Citizen the Lord Mayor also carries out the important role as chair of the council. This is the same for every local authority.

“The Lord Mayor’s hospitality budget hasn’t increased for a number of years, not even by the rate of inflation, therefore it represents a cut in real terms.

“The budget is carefully managed and last year was underspent by around £8,000 which was returned to the council.”

Read more: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/c ... r-13435921

[rebbonk]

Whilst I personally think that the Telegraph is trying to stir up a storm, (there are far worse things going on at the council) I really do question if this particular office is outdated?

[dutchman]

I miss the days when the Lord Mayor was driven around in a Coventry-built Daimler limousine. Perhaps they could replace his current vehicle with a privately-registered taxi?