For years it has signalled the arrival of Brighton and Hove’s number one citizen.

But the CD1 number plate which was attached to the mayor’s car is now up for sale – for a cool £165,000.

Those responsible at Brighton and Hove City Council say the money is needed to balance the books in the face of Government cuts.

However some opposition councillors have declared it “madness” to sell off the family silver.

The local authority has confirmed the number plate was being advertised and being stored until it was sold.

CarReg.com, which the council said is responsible for selling the plate, has CD1 listed for £165,000.

A further £105 would have to be paid to the DVLA in registration fee.

CarReg.com was last night unavailable to comment.

‘Cherished plates’

However its website said: “The ultimate cherished number plates to own across the board would be a single number 1 with a maximum of three letters.

“Personalised number plate A 1 is considered to be worth over £1 million, if it became available.”

During the council budget discussions, the Green administration said it believed the registration plate would raise £150,000 to be spent on funding community groups.

Council leader Jason Kitcat previously referred to it as “just a piece of plastic with a number on it”.

But Conservative councillor Ken Norman said: “I find this a most disturbing and a serious sell-out of a most important part of the history of Brighton and Hove.

“CD1 was the very first registration plate issued by Brighton Borough Council in 1904 and should most definitely remain part of our heritage.

“If this actually goes ahead to a private bidder with no connection to the city and with no intention of retaining CD1 for the use of the Mayor of Brighton and Hove it will be one of the biggest pieces of neglect we have witnessed in the history of our great city.”