Dudley councillors revved-up by mayoral car sale plan to keep toilets open
Dudley’s mayoral car got councillors revved-up during a debate on finance as its current occupant delivered a damning verdict.
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The vehicle looks set to be sold off to help pay for keeping toilets open after a meeting of the authority on February 24 agreed an amendment to the 2024/25 budget.
The amendment, which was submitted by members of the Unity Group, described the car as a limousine but the wording was rubbished by other councillors.
In the meeting, Councillor Adam Aston said: “It’s the first time I have heard of a ten-year-old Jag called a luxury limo.”
Councillor Shaun Keasey said: “We need to drop this language because it is misleading the public, the mayor in Dudley does not have a limo.
“She has a Jaguar XF that’s worth less than ten grand and if that is going to save Dudley’s finances – God help us."
The amendment was proposed by Unity’s independent councillor Andrew Tromans who was seeking to find funds to pay to save public toilets in Netherton and Wollaston as well as delaying cuts to the council’s Welfare Rights Team by six months.
The motion was seconded by Councillor Ethan Stafford, a Liberal Democrat member of the Unity Group, who said: “We will offset the shortfalls by disposing of the mayoral limousine and reducing the contingency budget.”
Along with the loss of the mayoral attendant, selling the mayoral car would save the council £54,000 in the next financial year while keeping the toilets open would cost £70,000 according to the Unity Group.
The extra costs of the amendment would be paid for by reducing the council’s contingency budget which helps cover unexpected costs by £166,000 in 2025/26.
The council’s ruling Conservative group have concerns about not setting enough aside for unplanned spending.
Dudley cabinet member for finance, Councillor Steve Clark said: “If we don’t speed up the recovery of our reserves then we are having a major problem with making sure we can run this council.”
Despite worries about reserves councillors were told the Conservatives believed the amendment was cost-neutral and supported it.
The future of the mayoral car and her attendant was first in doubt in October 2024 when council leader, Councillor Patrick Harley, said: “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.”
A meeting of the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee in December 2024 examined the decision to review the mayoral service and concluded their concerns should be discussed in full council.
During scrutiny of the 2024/25 budget in January 2025 councillors were told the mayoral service would be reviewed in the coming year.
The current mayor, Councillor Hilary Bills, made it clear to councillors during the budget meeting that she has little affection for her official vehicle.
Councillor Bills described the vehicle as the ‘most uncomfortable thing you have ever ridden in’ and added: “You can’t get out of it – why do you think I wear trousers.”
