'Mayor in Vauxhall Corsa would diminish borough'

A critic of the cuts said the standing of Dudley's mayor, currently Hilary Bills, would be diminished

Plans to sell a borough's official mayoral car have been criticised as damaging to civic pride.

Dudley Council plans to offload the vehicle and cut the post of a mayoral assistant as part of plans to reduce its budget.

Labour councillor Adam Aston said: "The idea that the mayor can turn up to functions in a Vauxhall Corsa and park next to the mayors of other authorities – it diminishes the status of the borough."

The Conservative council leader, Patrick Harley, argued that "unprecedented financial challenges" meant the authority needed to look at all areas of spending.

Previous ceremonial vehicles used by the mayor include a Jaguar XF.

The plan could also see the mayor wearing replica chains to "smaller" events because the attendant would no longer be in post to look after the valuable gold regalia.

One councillor said the plan could see Dudley's first citizen "turning up to functions in a Vauxhall Corsa"

The leader added: “By no longer having a permanent mayoral car and an attendant, we can save around £60,000 a year, while providing the serving mayor with the freedom to drive themselves to any number of engagements as they wish."

He added that the original civic chains would still be used for engagements like Remembrance Sunday and Armed Forces Day.

But Aston, who served as mayor’s consort when his mother Margaret Aston was mayor, argued: “Whoever suggested this doesn’t understand the borough’s history and the importance of the mayor in the civic life of the borough."

He said people were pleased when the mayor turned up to an event, but expected "gold chains and the mayor to arrive in style".

The borough's current mayor, Hilary Bills, said she was unable to comment on the proposal.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.