ALMOST £100,000 of taxpayers’ cash has been spent by Hampshire councils in the past three years on transport for their mayors.

In total, £93,540.90 was dished out across the county between April 2015 and March 2018 on transport for mayors, lord mayors, lord provosts and their equivalents.

New Forest District Council spent £12,530.30 on taxis.

It comes as part of an investigation by the Taxpayers’ Alliance (TPA), which sent out Freedom of Information requests to authorities across the country.

A spokesperson for New Forest District Council said: “The council’s view is that it is more economical, and flexible, to hire a private hire vehicle for use by the chairman when attending civic events in their role to represent and promote NFDC, rather than purchasing and maintaining a vehicle.

“The chairman uses his/her own vehicle for most of the events attended. The hired vehicle is used for some out-of-area events that are held in the evenings.

“If a dedicated vehicle was purchased, the council would, in addition to the purchase price, incur additional costs on items such as a driver, insurance, vehicle tax, fuel, and depreciation.”