£3.75 Million Spent by Manchester Council on 1.6 Million Taxi Journeys (Manchester Liberal Democrats Online)

Manchester Liberal Democrats Online <info@manchester-libdems.org.uk>

£3.75 Million Spent by Manchester Council on 1.6 Million Taxi Journeys

August 14, 2008 12:00 AM

Liberal Democrats Highlight Manchester Council's Massive Spending on Short Taxi Journeys

Figures uncovered by Manchester Liberal Democrats show that Manchester City Council has spent £3.75m for the staggering total of 1.6million taxi journeys for staff over the past 4 years.

That does not include a further £400,000 spent on home to school travel for children with Special Educational Needs.

The number of taxi journeys has dropped in the past year, as most taxi journeys were made by staff working in the Housing Department who have since been transferred to social landlords.

All these journeys, even those during peak hours, would be exempt from payment of the proposed Congestion Charge. The cost of each average journey is just £2.35.

Northenden and Wythenshawe Liberal Democrat Councillor Martin Eakins, who uncovered the figures, said today:

"This is a huge amount of Council Tax payers' money, mostly spent on short journeys, mostly on non-urgent matters. The people I represent in Northenden will wonder why they have to pay to cross the M60 in rush hour and to subsidise Council staff who won't have to pay the congestion charge."

Manchester Liberal Democrat Leader Simon Ashley added:

"Labour are going from bad to worse. Last month it was a Car Park for Councillors . This week it's millions on taxi journeys. Perhaps Labour ought to get their own house in order before they start telling other people to change their behaviour!"

Ends