Islington Tribune - by SIMON WROE Published: 24 August 2007
Anger as council spends £700 per day on snacks
TOWN Hall officials have been accused of spending nearly £185,000 on gourmet nibbles and Champagne for guests.
The council’s accounts department records revealed £184,572 – more than £700 a day – was spent on “refreshments” for meetings and VIP functions last year.
Richard Watts, Labour councillor and standards committee member, said: “Not only do fat cat Lib Dems pay themselves the highest councillor salaries in the country but they also guzzle champagne and charge it to tax payers. “The Lib Dems are greedy, arrogant and out of touch – Islington needs a council that’s on the side of the residents.”
Barnsbury pensioner and father of seven Ken Powell, 68, was shocked by the sum. He said: “How did it come to that much? “What were they having – five course meals? The council are a law unto themselves.”
But deputy council leader Terry Stacey said: “This needs to be seen in context. We have hundreds of events each year, often including the public. We take steps to keep our expenditure in check.”