Sinn Féin has criticised City Hall officials for trying to push ahead with a new and upgraded electric car for the Lord Mayor without giving details of costs and the model to elected representatives.
At the council’s January meeting of its Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, elected representatives were asked to “note” the agreed fleet programme for 2025/26 including the replacement of the Lord Mayor’s official car.
Sinn Féin however successfully proposed deferring any action on a new vehicle after stating that no elected representative had voted or agreed on the type of car or cost. Councillors agreed to defer the process to find out more details.
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Sinn Féin Councillor Ciaran Beattie said in the chamber: “I have a question on the capital programme, the fleet programme for 2025/26, including the replacement of the Lord Mayor’s car.
“It says (in the report) there will be a rolling allocation of £2.2 million towards the fleet programme, and mentions the Lord Mayor’s car. How much of that £2.2 million is put aside for the Lord Mayor’s car?
“It says in the report 'In keeping with the council’s previous decision the replacement car will be fully electric. The replacement car will be a four door executive saloon type vehicle with higher range than the existing vehicle'. I cannot remember this being previously agreed.”
A council officer said: “Those specific items I have mentioned in that section are the things that are different from the last agreement, so the replacement car would be a four door executive saloon with higher range, that is the improvements they are proposing from the existing model.”
She confirmed there would be a higher mileage rate in the new electric car than the current model, but did not mention the model type.
Councillor Beattie said: “We made the point the last time that it doesn’t need to be a four door executive saloon, it could be any car. We don’t know how much it is going to cost, and we certainly didn’t agree it had to be a higher range.”
He said: “I would like to see the details of this. To agree £2.2 million for fleet cars, and not know the details - what does (that figure mean), does it include a half million Rolls Royce?”
In 2020, councillors voted to move from a diesel car to an electric car but did not agree which model to choose. In the end they opted for an Audi e-tron, at an estimated cost £53,150 to buy, or £7,920.60 a year to lease on a four year lease. Sinn Fein said at the time they would “be more than content with the Hyundai”.
In October 2021 former Alliance Councillor Kate Nicholl, (now an MLA) became the city’s first Lord Mayor to have an electric vehicle as their official mode of transport.
The council Fleet Replacement Programme 2025/26 document shows a total budget of £2.2 million. It includes the lease/hire of three official corporate cars annually on a four year contract, including the Lord Mayor’s car, four refuse collection vehicles with a twin bin-lift, two refuse collection vehicles with a trade bin-lift, one refuse collection vehicle with an open back and a five tonne compact cleaning sweeper. It does not specify amounts for each vehicle.
The council states: “The Fleet Programme has been developed in conjunction with council departments and reflects the service needs of the organisation, and there are ongoing issues caused by the high age profile and condition of the fleet operating well beyond its recommended operational life cycle.
“This includes the replacement of the Lord Mayor’s official car, last considered by this committee in February 2020, the lease contract for which ends in October 2025. As previously, the Fleet Unit has engaged with the Lord Mayor’s Unit to ensure that the requirements, duties and obligations of the Office of the Lord Mayor are considered along with mileage requirements and capability.
“In keeping with the council’s previous decision the replacement car will be fully electric. The replacement car will be a four door executive saloon type vehicle with higher range than the existing vehicle, considered to be more in keeping with the operational requirements of the role.”
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