A FORMER Lord Mayor of York has hit out at the current holder of the civic role for criticising the cost of the ceremony which will usher her successor into office.

The decision to stage the event to mark the appointment of the new Lord Mayor, Acomb councillor David Horton, is expected to cost about £1,000 more than last year, partly due to the decision to hold it at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall.

Sue Galloway, who has been the city’s mayor for the last year, claimed it was not necessary to stage the ceremony there when it could have been held at the Assembly Rooms for free, while the Taxpayers’ Alliance also criticised the plans as “highly insensitive”.

But Bishopthorpe councillor John Galvin, who was Mrs Galloway’s predecessor as Lord Mayor, said: “Her comments were totally inappropriate and I regret that she felt the need to criticise the incoming Lord Mayor, something I think has never happened before.

“To suggest for one minute that the incoming mayor cannot decide how to spend the miniscule civic budget is ridiculous.”

Coun Galvin was last week confirmed as the spokesman for neighbourhood services within the Conservative group, which is now the main opposition party on City of York Council, and said: “It is an area which affects every person in the city and I shall ensure I keep a weather eye on the Labour administration regarding these services, criticising when necessary but also praising when it is deserved.”