Lord Mayor defends use of luxury vehicle
SWANSEA'S Lord Mayor has defended his council spending almost £12,000 per year on a luxury car to transport him on official duties.
Assembly member Dai Lloyd said councils across Wales needed to get their priorities right, saying cuts should be made in transporting mayors in chauffeur- driven limos — rather than in areas like education.
But Swansea's Richard Lewis, who assumed the chains of office last month, hit back and accused Dr Lloyd of trying to use the issue as a smokescreen for Assembly "under-funding".
Mr Lewis said the VW Phaeton, which transported him to functions, was an essential tool for carrying out his duties.
He said: "There are a number of functions which I have to attend as part of my duties, and attending these would not be possible without transportation.
"The figure spent on the lease of a mayoral car pales into comparison when you consider that children in Wales receive £500 less per child per year than their English counterparts.
"Maybe Mr Lloyd might want to try to address that figure first before he goes pointing the finger. And I don't recall him calling for a rethink on the use of a mayoral car when he was a member of Swansea Council."
Mr Lewis also justified living in Mansion House — a plush Victorian-built property which has been the official residence of the Lord Mayor since 1922.
"If I lived at my residence in Horton it would make getting to the number of functions I currently attend very difficult," he said. And the Gower councilor also insisted the position of Lord Mayor was beneficial to Swansea.
"Only 13 or 14 places in the UK have such a position, and it is only us and Cardiff that have Lord Mayors in Wales," he added.
"It is also a great opportunity to raise money for good causes.
"I know that last year's mayor, Alan Lloyd, donated around £30,000 to charity.
"Previous mayors have also been able to help bring jobs to the city. One Lord Mayor brought over the directors of Alberto Culver as his guests when they were looking at setting up a new factory in Europe. They were wined and dined at Mansion House and later set up a premises in the city, which has provided hundreds of jobs over the years."
The cost of leasing cars for mayors in South West Wales was revealed by the Post last week.
Swansea Council's last annual bill for its VW Phaeton came in at £11,996 while Carmarthenshire Council's leased Jaguar XF Saloon was priced at £12,328 for 12 months — excluding chauffeur charges.
Savings
And Neath Port Talbot, which included driver hire costs in its figure, said the bill for its two civic cars — a leased Volvo C70 and a Ford Galaxy — was £101,465.
The figures, which came after all councils had been talking about cuts and jobs being axed, angered Plaid AM Dai Lloyd.
He said: "With the savage cuts that are coming from the Government, all councils have to look at where they can make savings to ensure they protect frontline services. Surely the residents would prefer to see this money spent on education and social services.
"Councils across Wales need to undertake a prioritisation of their activities, and my feeling is that transporting mayors should not be very high on that list."
ben.wright@swwmedia.co.uk
75 Comments
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by juliet, mayor car
Thursday, June 17 2010, 5:59AM
“do you think he will come and pick up the 15 people who catch the nuber 33 bus at 5.45 from morriston to swansea that is being cut as of next week . There are people's jobs at risk because of this cut .”
by Mary W, Swansea
Monday, June 14 2010, 3:30PM
“I respect Dr Dai Lloyd who is a good Assembly Member and I agree with his cooments- "Surely the residents would prefer to see this money spent on education and social services" but as a born cynic I have to question the rasional behind Dr Lloyd questioning the financial governance of Swansea Council when he employs as his "office boy" Plaid Cymru councillor Darren Price who is in the Lib Dem administration and who has voted with the Lib Dems to cut the education budget and to close close our schools, Ellsmore respite centre and childrens homes.
If I was Dr Lloyd I would consider Cllr Price to be an embarrassment.”
by Valley Boy, Swansea Valley
Monday, June 14 2010, 2:00PM
“Welwellwell - Firsly, the figure of £300m from tourist is not an accurate total, but an estimate deduced for a statistical modelling tool. Secondly, no-one knows how much of whatever the real figure is goes back into the local exchequer - I supect most of it goes into the pocket of local business owners, so will contribute to Business Rates and small business employment only, certainly nowhere near £300m. Thirdly, the 'futile' case you refer to was fought over a matter of public safety and local council incompetence - it may indeed have been ultimately futile, but the people who fought it did so in a just cause.
Finally, give it a rest, Heather, the more you write, the more you make yourself look a fool :)”
by Anon, Swansea
Monday, June 14 2010, 1:39PM
“Sue-room with a view, actually it is Heather who is doing the biting, because she always has to come back with something malicious on not just one or two or even three but several readers comments !! Pathetic really, she needs to get a life and stop being such a rottweiller. LOL !”
by Sue, Room with a view
Monday, June 14 2010, 9:56AM
“God, cant you all see, she¿s getting exactly what she wants by winding you all up! I can see her now rubbing her hands, if you all stop biting, and keep to the topic, she¿ll run out of fuel, and there wont be any fun in it for her. I am sure though, that most of you like replying to her.”
by Fedupof Heather, Swansea
Monday, June 14 2010, 7:45AM
“You need to ask yourself why your are annoying SO MANY readers going by their comments on you on various stories. You obviously got the problem. I suggest you cut the attitude, now thats good advice, so take it. As for saying grow up, the words pottle kettle black comes to mind!”
by Linda, Neath
Sunday, June 13 2010, 8:45PM
“I believe in a hearing for all but I take umbrage at being called a bahhhh. There is nothing wrong with being a sheep. They get a damn good life compared to some dumb animals. They have the freedom to roam and you never see one sheep being elevated far above the others and the remainder being expected to look up to the elevated one. They say sheep are too dull to know if one sheep is better than the other, well I actually think they are like the ancient welsh and the woman who told King Henry when he rode into Wales to find the nobility - just because my cows are not as fat as yours, does not mean I am not of royal blood. The levellers are coming and they will point out the king who has no clothes. Beware if you are wearing the clothes of pomposity for you will be rumbled.”
by Linda, Neath
Sunday, June 13 2010, 8:19PM
“Carl Carlson - can you just give me the post code for your island please :)”
by Heather, Mumbles
Sunday, June 13 2010, 8:11PM
“Fedupof Heather, Swansea; get your facts straight. Nothing wrong with my posts apart from the fact that they . do not agree with the other *bahhhs* who comment here.
It is people like *you* who, as soon as they see my name, are intent on posting *abusive* comments.
....so fire away, go for it, because you will come up against a *brick wall* that *cannot be penetrated*.
*Understand the real world: not everyone like each other and not everyone agree with one-another, however, we all have a right to our opinions: that's life, so learn to deal with it...and, grow up!
The problem really is all *yours*.”
by Fedupof Heather, Swansea
Sunday, June 13 2010, 7:29PM
“I think its about time the post banned Heather, mumbles from making any more comments. She is obviously upsetting too many readers by her abusive comments.”