Edinburgh Council spent over £48,000 transporting Lord Provost to engagements over the last three years, the highest figure in Scotland and the third highest in the UK.
New research carried out by the Taxpayer's Alliance found that the local authority forked out £48,847 on fancy vehicles used to take the capital's Lord Provost and deputy lieutenants to civic engagements.
The money was used on two luxury BMW 730D diesel motors in the years reviewed. This is despite the city making significant efforts to increase the proportion of ultra-low emissions vehicles.
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Soon, a low emission zone rollout across Edinburgh will mean older cars and diesel vehicles will be virtually banned from the city centre in a bid to bring down the city's carbon footprint.
Spending more than Edinburgh Council was Birmingham City Council (£59,884) and Swansea City and Borough Council (£50,700).
John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayer's Alliance, criticised the huge spend across the country, with local authorities spending £2,689,959 on vehicles for mayors, lord mayors, lord provosts and chairmen and women.
He said: "These luxury mayoral limos represent the height of hypocrisy. Some travel will of course be necessary as a mayor, but councils cannot claim to be cash-strapped if they are still paying for Teslas and Jags to ferry local bigwigs about.
"With many councils no longer leasing or buying cars, all other local authorities should follow suit and encourage civic leaders to use cheaper forms of transport."
Edinburgh Live understands that the £42,000 in leasing costs included in the data actually relates to financing costs for loans used for the purchase of vehicles. The vehicles were also financed internally over a fixed period which ends this year, meaning the only costs associated will be running costs, maintenance, fuel and road tax.
A council spokeswoman said: "As Scotland's Capital, it is necessary for the Lord Provost, who is also Lord Lieutenant, his deputy, the city's Bailies and deputy Lieutenants to regularly travel to high profile civic engagements.
"For reasons of security, reliability and cost, the civic cars are the most appropriate mode of transport - they are also vital during Royal visits to Edinburgh. Transport costs are included in a budget agreed by Council."
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