Politicians still using cabs to travel from home to City Chambers

LOCAL councillors were today accused of saddling taxpayers with "unnecessary" taxi bills for persistently travelling between their homes and the City Chambers.

The latest in a series of probes by the Evening News shows the seven-month bill has remained virtually static at around £2500 – although that is a massive drop from the £14,000 total uncovered in 2005.

Under-fire education leader Marilyne MacLaren ran up the highest bill between December 2007 and June this year, followed by deputy leader Steve Cardownie.

But there was a huge disparity among councillors, with more than 20 politicians from all parties resisting the urge to use a taxi at all. Senior councillors such as leader Jenny Dawe and health and social care chief Paul Edie used cabs just a handful of times.

Councillors are only supposed to use taxis when no other public transport is "reasonably available". They are also given a free bus pass to get around the city.

Cllr Dawe said today: "I expect my colleagues to only use a taxi when absolutely necessary, given the current economic climate we all find ourselves in."

None of the Green councillors has used a single taxi since being elected in May last year, and leader Alison Johnstone said: "There's an excellent bus service in the city and I would only use a taxi in exceptional circumstances. If people just allowed themselves a bit longer, then perhaps the taxpayer wouldn't have to cough up for unnecessary bills."

Following an Evening News story in February, many individuals have cut their bills – including former Labour group leader Ewan Aitken and economic development leader Tom Buchanan.

Cllr MacLaren said today: "(Education] is the largest department and has the most places to visit. I'm very keen to get out and see schools, nurseries, community centres and social work centres. There are very rare occasions when I'm the only person in the taxi."

Cllr Cardownie said: "I normally drive or take the bus, and I've tried to keep taxi bills down deliberately.

"These will have been emergency situations, but I'll re-double my efforts. The Evening News quite rightly keeps a watch on this."

Despite running up the highest bill between May and November last year, Labour councillor Paul Godzik spent nearly £230 on cabs in the subsequent seven months.

The opposition spokesman for culture and sport today claimed this is because he is a "non-driver".

"At times, it's inevitable we have to use taxis to get to various meetings," he said.

But his group leader, Cllr Andrew Burns, said: "I make zero use of taxis, and as a group we have a general policy of trying to minimise taxi use."

Asked if he would speak to Cllr Godzik, he said: "It's something we constantly discuss as a group, and it will come up in debate at our next meeting."

Tory councillor Jeremy Balfour's taxi bill rose from £25 to nearly £200, but he said today: "I broke a bone in my foot over summer, and it was in plaster, so I had to use taxis more than normal."

Politicians who used taxis between their home and the High Street included Cllrs Cardownie, Godzik, MacLaren, Buchanan and Lib Dem Joanna Coleman – formerly Toomey – who does not hold any senior positions.

But she said she plans to pay the council back for several journeys from her home in Broughton.

She added: "As a councillor for Sighthill and Gorgie, I go to meetings when it's dark and sometimes get a taxi for safety reasons."