Council forks out £2k for car

EPPING Forest District Council's civic ceremonial budget is being increased by £2,000 to allow council chairman Brian Sandler more frequent use of a civic car to take him to and from functions.

The increase takes the budget to £30,000, which includes the cost of the annual civic awards evening (£12,000) which has also been allocated an additional £2,000.

The civic car hire budget had been £1,000, but a report to Monday's cabinet stated that there were seven potential hirings during the rest of the civic year, costing £300 per hire.

The additional £2,000 is to be taken from the underspent salary budget in the research and democratic services section.

But the hire cost was questioned by some councillors.

Councillor Michael Heavens, who was council chairman in 1998-99, said: "Councillor Padfield (chairman 1997-98) and I both agreed to a reduction for car hiring.

"We didn't see any need at all to arrive in a big hired car and we reduced this budget.

"It would be inconsistent for me to vote for it to be raised.

"What are we going to get not one of those long white things? " The car is tucked away at the back of some car park, it's not like the red carpet stuff."

He added that during the summer he hired a stretch limo for a family wedding, leaving the district at 5pm and returning at midnight, for £150.

Councillor Caroline Pond described the £300 hire cost for each occasion as incredible.

Councillor Stephen Metcalfe joked: "I'm quite happy to do it for £250 and hire a car!"

He said he wanted more evidence regarding the cost of hiring the car before agreeing to the budget increase.

The cabinet agreed to the £2,000 increase for the current year but sought a review of costings for the next financial year.

The £2,000 increase in the civic awards budget was agreed.

Mr Heavens said: "The civic awards do enhance the council's standing."