Provost's £4000 Burns Supper gets a roasting

Published on Thursday 5 November 2009 08:52

A ROW has erupted over plans by the city's Lord Provost to spend £4,000 of taxpayer's money on a Burns Supper.

The city council has agreed to provide funding for the event in a move criticised by political opponents as a waste of taxpayers' money – coming as it does less than five weeks after the Lord Provost's annual Christmas networking reception.

The council is currently drawing up plans to slash spending next year and is facing a funding gap of more than 90 million over the next three years.

&#149 Is the Lord Provost right to spend 4,000 on a council Burns Supper?

It will be the second consecutive year that the council has held a Burns Supper celebration, after an event was held earlier this year to mark the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns' birth.

Councillor Andrew Burns, leader of the Labour group on the city council, said: "Whilst I attended the last one we were happy to support it then because it was the 250th anniversary of Burns' birth but to hold it again is entirely inappropriate in the current economic climate.

"I recognise that there are advantages to these types of events but, in the current economic circumstances, every single one needs to be looked at closely on its own merits."

Green councillor Steve Burgess added: "I just feel at this time of school closures, pay disputes and cost-cutting, the council should not be spending 4,000 on a dinner."

However, deputy city leader Councillor Steve Cardownie, also leader of the SNP group on the council, hit back at the critics, saying:

"A Burns Supper is always significant. Andrew Burns attended the last one, and Eric Milligan toasted the haggis. It's disingenuous for Labour to say we shouldn't have another one. It's just petty politics. You can't say it's a worthwhile and successful event one year then never have it again."

Of around 80 guests last year, half were from business, culture and sport and "partner institutions", while six per cent were from education and five per cent from consular corps. All of the remaining 39 per cent were "council representatives".

The council is trying to secure a sponsor for the event, which would reduce the cost.

Council leader Jenny Dawe said: "This will, like last year's, be a relationship-building opportunity for our partner organisations and businesses working with us to take the city forward."