A LLANBRYNMAIR councillor has accused Powys County Council of wasting money by purchasing a “£37,000 car” for its new chairman.

The council has confirmed that it has bought an Audi A6 SE Executive 2.0 TDi Ultra for Cllr Dai Davies, who is the member for Berriew, but said the car was the only suitable option because of the chairman’s “physical requirements”.

Cllr Elwyn Vaughan, member for Llanbrynmair, labelled the move “insulting” and called for a “cultural change” at the county council.

But Cllr Davies told the Cambrian News he was unable to drive the previous chairman’s car because it had a manual gearbox, and that he was only able to drive an automatic car due to a disability suffered following a serious injury to his left ankle.

Plaid Cymru member Cllr Vaughan said: “[A] total waste of money and insulting and insensitive to the people of Powys.

“At a time of austerity, continued cuts and communities losing services, such action as this in purchasing an expensive car for the benefit of a single person is insensitive, insulting and shows total ignorance of the challenges many in our communities face. It is particularly insulting to [council] staff, who only this week have been refused by the Tory Westminster Government a pay increase beyond one per cent and yet they see the chairman of the council who employs them with the luxury of a new executive car."

The leader of Powys County Council, Cllr Rosemarie Harris, said: “The role of chairman of Powys County requires a car to carry out civic duties effectively.

“The current chairman has special physical requirements which require specific adaptations that were not available on the previous vehicle."

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