It's a Ford.

Demonstrating a complete lack of sensitivity for staff feelings, in the same month that Labour Councillors pushed through a major cut in staff mileage rates and refused point-blank to consider operating a cheaper pool car system, Bolsover Council took delivery of a brand new Civic car.

To rub salt into the wound its parked right outside the main entrance where it doesn’t exactly convey an image of frugalness. With emissions well into band F it isn’t going to trouble the Green Car top ten either. Of course it is splendidly equipped with all mod cons including, bizarrely, tinted windows!

I know the Queen has one but does the Chairman of Bolsover need a dedicated car and chauffeur to boot? All Councillors can claim a mileage allowance so why can’t the Chairman, or Chairwoman for that matter, drive themselves to their functions? When youth services are being slashed, staff transferred to shared service units, pay increases suspended and Council housing rents going up by 9% surely it’s time to show some restraint.

I’m told that back in July a member of staff said that a cost of £25K (plus running costs) for this car was out of touch with the views of staff and the public and difficult to justify when severe cuts were being made and jobs at risk. Back then the Council said they had “no idea” where the figure of £25K could have come from so couldn’t comment on it! They then explained that whilst there hadn't been a dedicated civic car in the past it was needed now because the car shared by the Chairman with the courier was no longer needed as that service was being cut.

I don’t know how much the Council paid for this car but according to Ford's web-site the rrp is £22,792 in the showroom with VAT making it £27,560 on the road. When you add in tax, maintenance, cleaning and the chauffeur it would seem to wipe out much of the saving made by terminating the courier.

Who made this decision? – In truth I don’t know. It certainly didn’t come to Full Council. It may have gone to a Cabinet as a confidential item but they don't let me see all of them. This morning I just picked-up a copy of “In-Touch”, the Council’s glossy sent to all residents. Ahh I thought it might be in there...... perhaps alongside an apology for both the rent increase and the recent auditor's letter but those pages must have fallen out of my copy so until they print all the news about Bolsover I'll keep tapping away at my blog.