Scarborough Council auction of civic vehicle number plates raises more than £7,000 for mayor’s charity

More than £7,000 has been raised for the Mayor’s Community Fund through the auction of two car registration plates, according to Scarborough Council.

Previously allocated to two civic cars used by the mayor and deputy mayor, the registration plates have not been in use for almost two decades.

Since the council moved to a contracted chauffeur service eight years ago, both have been in storage.

The number plates, XVN 1 and XVN 1K, were sold by the authority via an auction website that specialises in registration plates, regtransfers.co.uk

In its February residents’ newsletter, the authority said: “Two car registration plates that we’ve owned but not used for almost two decades, have been sold to raise more than £7,000 for the Mayor’s Community Fund.”

According to Scarborough Council, there is no historical significance to either registration mark or any obvious connection to the borough of Scarborough.

The council said: “It’s thought they were only ever originally purchased because they were distinctive and similar enough to be used on two separate cars.

“Both plates are currently registered to the council until 2025 by which time we will have been abolished and replaced by the new unitary council for North Yorkshire.”

When the auction was announced in November 2022, Cllr Janet Jefferson, cabinet member for corporate resources, said: “We’ve decided to auction these two registration plates because they won’t be allocated to any vehicle before our council is abolished next year.

“Neither plate has any historical significance nor an obvious connection to the Yorkshire coast but if they do have any financial value, they could benefit many good causes.”

She added: “The Mayor’s Community Fund makes a huge difference to people in communities across our borough and the proceeds will be a welcome boost to the funds available.”