Upwards of £33,000 has been spent by Bromley Council leasing cars for its mayors, according to new figures.

The council shared figures with this newspaper showing the costs of leasing an Audi and an Jaguar for its respective mayor and deputy.

Since 2015, £33,230 has been spent on the vehicles – including an £80 fee of transferring a personalised numberplate in 2017.

Mayoral cars in Bromley have donned a LBB1L number plate for more than 40 years.

Since 2017, the mayor has leased an Audi A8 – which replaced a Jaguar X16, which had totted up more than 100,00 miles.

In total £33,230 has been paid out on the two vehicles since 2015, including fuel, breakdown cover and taxes and insurance.

Mayors often work seven days a week attending civic events across the borough, and the council opted to lease “long wheelbase” cars with extra legroom as mayors wear “formal wear” such as robes, which can need more space.

Councillor Graham Arthur, executive councillor for resources said: “We are proud of the important roles that the mayor and deputy mayor play in representing the borough in many and varied functions right across the borough and beyond.

“This includes raising the profile of often local good causes and raising many thousands annually for these charities. These positions are not paid roles, with the mayor’s duties remaining politically impartial and the mayoral role being fulfilled by councillors from both the main political groups in recent years.

“In this demanding and time sensitive role, most residents will understand that the mayor needs a car that will be fit for purpose, both in terms of reliability and being suitably sized to comfortably accommodate passengers and related equipment.

“Whilst there are clearly costs associated with this, the costs represent good value compared with alternatives and some of the other figures quoted elsewhere.”

Since 2007, the deputy mayor has used a Jaguar XJ6 which also acts as cover for the mayor’s Audi.

The council said leasing a vehicle has been considered as the most attractive option.

Since May, Councillor Kim Botting has served as the mayor of Bromley and David Cartwright has acted as the deputy Mayor.