BOROUGH chiefs have defended the lease of a Bentley and two other cars used by the civic teams of Chester and Ellesmere Port.

A Freedom of Information request sent by right-wing pressure group TaxPayers’ Alliance has revealed that between April 2015 and March 2018, a total of £39,387 was spent on the leasing and fuelling of mayoral cars in Cheshire West.

That included a Bentley Flying Spur worth £132,000 for Chester’s lord mayor and a Vauxhall Zafira for Ellesmere Port’s mayor.

Chester’s civic team also had use of a Vauxhall Insignia, before this was changed to a Jaguar XE Prestige worth £32,000 last autumn.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers are tired of hearing local authorities say they have no money left when there are still instances of excessive spending.

“Some travel will of course be necessary to conduct duties but families who struggle to pay their council tax bill will roll their eyes at the thought of their hard-earned money being spent on Bentleys and Jaguars for politicians to attend functions.

“Forty per cent of councils didn’t lease or buy cars, so all other local authorities should follow that example and encourage civic leaders to use cheaper forms of transport.

“Every penny wasted on excessive travel expenses is money that could be going towards social care or bin collections.”

The TaxPayers’ Alliance sent FOI requests to councils across the UK, and found Cheshire West and Chester Council was one of just three to lease a Bentley Flying Spur – along with neighbouring Cheshire East Council, and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, in London.

But the council says it does not lease any civic vehicles itself.

Instead, the cars are leased by the City of Chester and Ellesmere Port charter trustees – which are separate organisations from the council which raise their own precepts.

The two organisations have decision-making powers and manage their own budgets, and CWaC says it has no influence on the decisions made by the two groups.

Cllr Alex Black, Labour, is the current Mayor of Chester and chairman of the City of Chester charter trustees.

“These two vehicles are in constant use by our very busy civic team,” he said.

“Decisions like vehicle leases are discussed and voted on by the board of trustees.

“There are a number of factors that go into deciding which vehicles are most appropriate, including suitability, supporting local industry and environmental impact.”