Council spending on award ceremonies revealed

Click here for a full local breakdown with data for every council


Click here for the complete press release


The TaxPayers' Alliance today reveals that local councils have spent thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money on award ceremonies in the last financial year. The money went towards tickets, accommodation, travel and catering for events such as the Loo of the Year and the Magic Of Motown.

This is the first comprehensive list of award ceremonies hosted or attended by councils across the UK. Some councils spent nothing on awards but, despite the need for savings, others spent thousands of pounds on individual events.

Click here for a full local breakdown with data for every council


Click here for the complete press release


Councils spent at least £1.2 million on award ceremonies in the last financial year but the true figure is probably much higher as many councils do not keep detailed enough records to collate an accurate total on spending like this.

The key findings in this research are:

  • Among the ceremonies attended were the Everything Happens Somewhere Awards 2010; Loo of the Year; the Sports Turf and Landscaping Awards; the British Parking Awards; the Magic Of Motown and the Structural Steelwork Awards

  • Glasgow City Council spent the most hosting and attending award ceremonies totalling almost £83,000

  • Fife Council attended and hosted the most ceremonies with a total of 34

  • At least 115 councils spent no money on hosting or attending award ceremonies

  • Councils spent at least £1.2 million on hosting and attending award ceremonies during 2010-11. This is almost certainly an underestimate as many councils could not tell us how much they spent on award ceremonies last year

  • 15 councils attended the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Awards at a total cost of £5,000


Click here for a full local breakdown with data for every council


Click here for the complete press release


Matthew Sinclair, Director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:

"Taxpayers will be staggered that councils facing significant pressure on their finances are spending thousands of pounds on back-patting award ceremonies. Recognising staff who have done well doesn’t require this kind of extravagant spending. Some authorities have shown that they understand award ceremonies aren’t the right priority for money that is supposed to be spent on frontline services, but others need a reality check. Many items of spending like this are a small share of council’s total budgets but controlling these kinds of costs can add up to a better deal for families."

Click here for a full local breakdown with data for every council


Click here for the complete press release


The TaxPayers' Alliance today reveals that local councils have spent thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money on award ceremonies in the last financial year. The money went towards tickets, accommodation, travel and catering for events such as the Loo of the Year and the Magic Of Motown.

This is the first comprehensive list of award ceremonies hosted or attended by councils across the UK. Some councils spent nothing on awards but, despite the need for savings, others spent thousands of pounds on individual events.

Click here for a full local breakdown with data for every council


Click here for the complete press release


Councils spent at least £1.2 million on award ceremonies in the last financial year but the true figure is probably much higher as many councils do not keep detailed enough records to collate an accurate total on spending like this.

The key findings in this research are:

  • Among the ceremonies attended were the Everything Happens Somewhere Awards 2010; Loo of the Year; the Sports Turf and Landscaping Awards; the British Parking Awards; the Magic Of Motown and the Structural Steelwork Awards

  • Glasgow City Council spent the most hosting and attending award ceremonies totalling almost £83,000

  • Fife Council attended and hosted the most ceremonies with a total of 34

  • At least 115 councils spent no money on hosting or attending award ceremonies

  • Councils spent at least £1.2 million on hosting and attending award ceremonies during 2010-11. This is almost certainly an underestimate as many councils could not tell us how much they spent on award ceremonies last year

  • 15 councils attended the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Awards at a total cost of £5,000


Click here for a full local breakdown with data for every council


Click here for the complete press release


Matthew Sinclair, Director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:

"Taxpayers will be staggered that councils facing significant pressure on their finances are spending thousands of pounds on back-patting award ceremonies. Recognising staff who have done well doesn’t require this kind of extravagant spending. Some authorities have shown that they understand award ceremonies aren’t the right priority for money that is supposed to be spent on frontline services, but others need a reality check. Many items of spending like this are a small share of council’s total budgets but controlling these kinds of costs can add up to a better deal for families."

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