Brakes put on council plan to buy car

Controversial plans to spend a staggering £6,401 on a German-made limousine for Renfrew District Council were thrown out after a stormy meeting in 1975.

The environmental committee recommended the purchase and it was initially backed by both Labour and Conservative council members.

But there was growing opposition to the idea of buying a continental car at a time when the British motor industry was facing its worst-ever crisis, due to a slump in sales.

And many councillors felt that, if possible, the Chrysler car plant in Linwood should be supported instead.

The recommendation to buy the German limo came just two weeks after the council pledged to support the workers at Linwood, who were fearful that their factory could close, due to the depressed state of the market.

The man leading the campaign to scrap the ‘buy German’ plan was Councillor Robert Colquhoun – a Conservative member from Renfrew.

He strongly opposed the move at committee stage but was defeated at the vote, despite support from some Labour members.

Councillor Colquhoun insisted that a six-seater limousine was unnecessary for council use and that a smaller, cheaper car should be purchased, with a larger one being hired when needed.

However, committee convenor, Councillor Tom McBrearty, said a sixseater was necessary to accommodate the number of councillors and officials who would form deputations travelling around on council business.

He insisted it was also a matter of “prestige and dignity.”

The car recommended by the committee – a Mercedes 240 – would cost £6,401 and officials estimated it would cost £4,295 a year to run, including the wages of a chauffeur.

The plan flew in the face of a policy adopted by Strathclyde Regional Council, who decided that any new cars purchased for council use MUST be British.

After much debate, an emergency meeting of Renfrew District Council was staged, where the environmental committee put the brakes on the move – and decided to hire a car instead.