'No unlawfulness' in West mayor Dan Norris's bus wrap advert

Mayor Marvin Rees (right) is refusing to attend a meeting discussing the advertisement for Dan Norris's (left) Birthday Buses Scheme

A committee has concluded "no finding of unlawfulness" regarding a £10,000 payment for a bus advert featuring pictures of a mayor and his dog.

A First Bus in Bristol was wrapped in photos of the West's Metro mayor Dan Norris to promote a bus travel scheme.

The decision was taken by leaders of South Gloucestershire Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council.

The advert was described "clearly unlawful" by the West of England Combined Authority (Weca).

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees refused to take part in the hearing.

In the finding, the committee said: "The committee is of the view that this expenditure was clearly unlawful.

"However we will not pass a formal resolution to that effect, because we feel very strongly that a representative from Bristol City Council should have attended this meeting to contribute to the debate and the vote.

"Therefore we resolve to conclude the meeting having made no formal finding on unlawfulness."

The committee was only made up of councillor Claire Young and councillor Kevin Guy.

The images were part of a promotion plan for a free Birthday Buses travel scheme

Mr Rees had previously described the proceedings as "improper" in a letter seen by the BBC and didn't take part in the hearing.

"I am unconvinced this meeting is lawful and am of the view it is improper," Mr Rees said in the letter.

Weca interim chief executive Richard Ennis raised concerns about the advert in April and removed the bus from public view.

Mr Norris defended himself at the time, saying mayors are "meant to be visible".