CITY council officials are spending nearly £3000 a week on taxis, new figures have revealed.

Officers attending meetings on council business spent a total of £147,565 on taxis last year – with the services for communities department accounting for a third of all journeys.

Councillors' expenses only make up around three per cent of the overall taxi bill.

The taxi bill for council staff has dropped from £166,427 in 2006/07 but opposition politicians and environmental groups today hit out at the expense and called on officials to start using public transport.

The spend on taxis was revealed after a question by Labour's Lesley Hinds at the last full council meeting.

Jim Inch, Director of Corporate Services said: "Council officers may use taxis when attending meetings or carrying out other essential council business, provided there are no other means to get them there."

http://news.scotsman.com/politics/City39s-3000aweek-taxi-bill.4172846.jp