£50,000 mayoral car is delivered to Walsall Council office

Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Mohammad Nazir, attended the Guru Nanak temple in Caldmore in the new Jaguar XJ yesterday.

The investment in the vehicle has been criticised by opposition councillors who have hit out at the timing of the outlay, when the council is facing £19 million cuts and axing workers.

But Councillor Nazir said the decision had been taken by council leaders and was nothing to do with him – but claimed he would be happier to arrive at events 'in a rickshaw'.

"I'm very honoured and privileged to be mayor. I love going out to meet new people," he said.

"How I get there and back is not up to me. It's up to the leadership of the council. "I would be even happier if I am taken to my engagements in a rickshaw."

He added: "The pledge I made when I got to the office was I will promote community cohesion."

Council chiefs have vigorously defended the investment, which excludes VAT, saying the mayor is one of the most prestigious roles in the borough.

They add it has no impact on redundancies as it has been paid for from revenue budgets.

Council leader Mike Bird previously compared the outlay to a bricklayer needing a trowel, a painter a paintbrush and a mayor a mayoral car.

The new car has replaced a Jaguar Sovereign Executive.

This is to allow the previous mayor's vehicle to become the deputy's and to get rid of another model dating back to 1996. The authority needs to save £19m in the next financial year, including the closure of Walsall Museum and cuts to children's services.

However, most people agree with the proposal to axe the museum in Lichfield Street to save £70,000, according to a survey.

Of those who responded to a consultation, 52 per cent backed the authority's plan to shut Walsall Museum. Raising the cost of an application fee for blue disabled badges received overwhelming support, with 80 per cent in favour.

Cuts to youth support services and increasing burial charges were the most unpopular proposals.