Councillors will have the option of taking a council vehicle to use

Any private use of the vehicles will have to be reimbursed.

Mayor Karen Williams said the move would enable greater flexibility for councillors and be cost-efficient.

“This will not result in increased costs for ratepayers,’’ Cr Williams said.

“The annual costs of providing councillors with a council vehicle are similar to the costs incurred from councillors claiming reimbursement for the use of a private vehicle for work purposes.’’

A spokesman said no councillors had applied for a car yet as the policy was adopted only last week.

Costs claimed by each councillor in the first year of the new policy will be included in the annual report which will be published in October or November next year.

Estimated costs reimbursed in the current financial year indicate that the mileage claim method will result in claims of up to $14,000.

Currently, councillors are paid 66 cents per kilometre, based on log book entries.

The annual whole-of-life cost to council of providing a councillor with a vehicle is expected to be similar _ once the private use component has been repaid.

A council spokesman said the type of vehicle to be bought would be “consistent with the community's expectations’’.

“The role of a councillor requires regular and substantial travel throughout the city and sometimes beyond its borders for council-related purposes,’’ he said.

“The business-related costs of operating a motor-vehicle to enable councillors to carry out their duties can be substantial and these have been included in a similar policy for many terms.’’

Councillors chose to reintroduce the car option to give themselves greater choice.

Costs were expected to be kept about par with the original scheme because of the council's strong fleet purchasing power.

The council fleet had been bought and maintained at lower costs than alternatives like leasing.

Councillors will review other corporate policies over coming months.