Labour has pushed ahead with cutting the budget for the Lord Mayor in York.
Under the savings, the Lord Mayor will no longer be allowed to stay in the Mansion House, will be permitted to wear the chain on fewer occasions, will be expected to go to events by public transport more often, and will only be funded by the council for a set number of events.
Mayoral allowances would be reduced by £5,000, and altogether the proposals will save about £10,000.
The plans were considered at a decision session by the executive member for finance, performance, major projects and equalities Cllr Katie Lomas yesterday (Wednesday).
Current Lord Mayor Cllr Chris Cullwick told the meeting the recommendations had been produced “with zero consultation – no consultation with the current civic party, nor any who served in the roles in the past”.
Former Lord Mayors also had their say. Cllr Keith Orrell (Lib Dem) said: “It will be a sad day for York if the proposals in the report were actually put into effect.
“They would undermine its historic role, and the work for our communities.”
Former Sheriff and Lib Dem Cllr Ashley Mason (Lib Dem) said he was particularly concerned at the decision to remove the civic support officer from some mayoral events.
“The civic officers were vital to enabling me to function at my best helping, me find key people in a crowded room, describing who was at an event and finding a large print order of service.
“On three occasions as a sheriff my personal safety was placed at risk, one where the police had to be called. The report makes no mention of personal safety.”
‘Return to medieval times’
The city’s first Green Lord Mayor Dave Taylor said he gave up his job to perform mayoral business seven days a week.
“I fear these proposals will return us to medieval times when only wealthy individuals can afford to be Lord Mayor,” he said.
Labour councillor Janet Looker has been Lord Mayor three times. She said she welcomed the review “because I think in times of appalling austerity, when budgets are being cut in all directions, the civic party has to make their contribution.
“And it may not look an awful lot. It’s needed and it is a gesture, and I suspect there are more savings in there.”
Council leader Claire Douglas told the meeting: “Austerity does mean that this year there’s a £14 million gap in the funding to the council.
“If the 2010 budget had increased just by inflation we would have about £35 million a year more than we currently have.”
With the demands of an ageing population, she estimated the gap was actually £40m a year.
“Unfortunately, there is no element of the city which is not affected by this,” she said.
The executive member for finance Cllr Katie Lomas thanked the former and current Lord Mayors for their work for the city.
She said she was very proud of the city’s history and the civic party. “£134,000 is an enormous sum of money for the council to spend at a time when we are having to make such cruel and awful cuts.
“I think it’s a modest reduction of seven per cent, while still supporting the civic office to do their wonderful work in the communities.”
She accepted the recommendations of the report, with a review after a year.