Taxpayers pick up the bill for new mayor dinner costing over £6,000

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Officials spent more than £6,000 of taxpayer’s cash on a “grand evening” celebrating the appointment of a new Leicestershire mayor.

New data has revealed the spending came from Charnwood Borough Council (CBC) when it made Councillor Colin Hamilton (Labour) the new mayor for the district at a public meeting in Loughborough Town Hall on May 11.

That same evening, councillors, local dignitaries, the mayor’s family and charity guests attended a private dinner celebrating the news. In all, 94 guests attended the dinner.

Data released under the Freedom of Information (FOI) act shows the event cost CBC £6,448 – with more than £4,000 of that spent on food and £800 on drinks.

Officials from CBC say the guests, who were not charged for their attendance, enjoyed a welcome drink, table wine or soft drinks, a “loyal toast to the King”, plus a two-course meal.

The rest of the more than £6k cost went on hiring the auditorium and facilities for the event as well as staffing and sound equipment.

Annual events such as these were scaled back after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, with a smaller buffet set up becoming the norm.

However, the FOI response reveals the mayor’s office had requested this formal dinner, in a decision which was approved by CBC’s Head of Democracy and Chief Executive.

The cost was apportioned to the council’s civic budget and the hire of rooms budget.

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The figures have raised eyebrows among previous members, with former Charnwood councillor and Leicester Lord Mayor Mary Draycott (Labour) questioning the decision.

She said: “With the cost of living crisis hitting so many Charnwood people and threatening to get worse, was this use of taxpayers money a wise decision?

“This decision follows councillors agreeing a raise in their allowances earlier this year, increasing that budget to almost £155,000 per annum.

“My view is no. In these hard times for so many, elected councillors should be thinking more of their constituents than having a grand evening at their expense.”

2026 is one of the final years where Charnwood will have a mayor, with local government reorganisation set to dissolve the borough councils and replace them with fewer, larger authorities.

Ministers are currently consulting on what the new layout will look like, with the new authorities set to take control in April 2028.

A CBC spokesperson said: “Every year the Mayor of Charnwood highlights community causes and projects, gives the borough’s thanks to people who go above and beyond the call of duty, and represents Charnwood at many events.

“Every Mayor also raises money for charity, with thousands of pounds generated each year for causes to support people who need help.

“The Annual Mayor Making is part of the civic year and an opportunity to celebrate civic pride. An annual dinner was held most years before the pandemic. When re-introduced, a buffet event was held but following feedback from members and guests, a sit-down meal approach was reintroduced this year.

“Costs are met from the civic budget which is managed carefully and generally has reduced over the years as pressures on local government funding have mounted.”

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