LIBERAL Democrats have slammed Winchester’s Conservative administration’s transport costs.

The city council spent £143,181 on internal business travel last year, including nearly £105,000 on staff mileage, £25,414 on public transport, £12,932 on councillors’ mileage and £46 on taxis for councillors.

The details were revealed at a full council meeting after a question from Cllr Robert Hutchison to finance portfolio holder Stephen Godfrey.

But Cllr Hutchison said: “Transport costs are a very important part of our budget and need rather more scrutiny and attention.”

But Cllr Godfrey defended the costs and said it was vital for officers to travel across the district.

He said: “Officers need sensible arrangements to deliver services properly over a very large geographical area. We have seen a marked reduction in the cost of lease cars and the cost of mileage is coming down significantly year on year.

“Eastleigh is a much more compact area which does not require as many housing officers, so they have significantly lower numbers.

“However, it’s always well and good to compare with similar authorities and I’m sure in due course we will find time to revisit the question of lease cars and the cost of business travel.”