Plaid Cymru has said Caerphilly County Borough Council should scrap civic lunches for mayors of neighbouring local authorities.
The opposition has called on the ruling Labour group to consider ending the annual civic lunches and drinks attended by 38 guests.
The mayor invites the authority’s leader, deputy mayor and chief executive and their consorts, along with the mayors and chairmen of authorities along with their partners to the annual event.
The lunch costs range from £1,156 in 2011-12 to £1,844 and £1,031.85 in 2013-14, according to information obtained by a Plaid Cymru supporter using the Freedom of Information Act.
Councillor Colin Mann, Leader of the Plaid Cymru Group, said: “When in control of the authority, the Plaid group supported these traditional annual events because it provides an opportunity to meet and chat over issues and build relationships with our neighbours.
“But it seems from inquiries that while the annual lunches are held in South Wales that is not the picture in the north where local authorities do not feel it is necessary to hold them. The picture is similar in Cardiff.
“These events might be justifiable when times are good and services do not have to be cut but times have changed. We would like the Labour group to look at this event, and, indeed others, and examine whether they can any longer be justified to the public.
“Many members of the public will consider these events, although they cost a relatively small amount of money, should no longer be held. Is a lunch and a drink on the public purse for other councillors justifiable any longer? This is not a criticism of any particular party but a request to consider whether this sort of spending is appropriate in this austere world.
“The council has cut financial support to local organisations, closed the popular café at Caerphilly Leisure Centre, shut three public toilets and backing for bus services. At the same time council tax has risen by 3.9%.”
A Labour Group spokesperson said: “Our Labour-led administration welcomes input from all. We look forward to Nationalist councillors contributing to forthcoming Caerphilly Council scrutiny committee meetings which will be considering our medium term financial planning.
Good idea to cut out this event, or at least the free food part. I must remind Plaid Cymru that they continued to host this happily during the recession years 2008 to 2012.
This sounds like a little bit of the usual party politics to me.
Of course Clearly Labour Run Caerphilly council should cancel this party. Unless, of course, they charge each attendee a fee and donate that fee to the third sector ( Charities) who operate the local FOOD BANKS, What do you say Councillors??????
I think you’ll find that Councillor Colin Mann is always thinking of better ways of spending our money for the good of Caerphilly. In fact it was he who ensured that we had a Council Tax freeze both last year and the year before that. This isn’t about point scoring at all. Oh and by the way – Services in Caerphilly have not improved since the Labour council, in fact we’ve lost many of the good things we used to have!