MANY readers will be surprised that the Mayor of Kirklees is costing ratepayers £228,000 a year.
Cuts will be made in this department as well as elsewhere on the council with the figure falling to £159,000 by 2013-14.
Many will think this still remains too costly even though the figure includes paying for support staff and the Mayoral car.
Don’t forget that the Mayor still has a high profile role to play in these modern times and continues to be seen as the major civil dignitary in Kirklees. If people are holding events, often they want – and sometimes expect – the Mayor there to open or support them.
Over the years the councillors who have been elected Mayor have put in many hours and shown great dedication to the role.
But clearly the costs can and should come down.
We are at a turning point where every penny has to be justified and some would ask if there is a need for a banquet at the Mayor-making ceremony each year.
Perhaps just a ceremony will be enough to install the new Mayor in future, especially as one councillor says that more than 100 people have dined for free at these events.
But it wasn’t free. Their bill was picked up by the taxpayers and now is the time for that to stop or at least charge everyone who attends.
