Hey, Big (Mac) Spender: Council blows taxpayers cash at McDonald’s

COUNCIL officers spent up to £80,000 of taxpayers’ money on luxury hotels and working lunches - including McDonald’s.
Picture: PAPicture: PA
Picture: PA

A Freedom of Information request revealed that 18 officers at the Reigate and Banstead Borough Council racked up a bill of £78,000 between April last year and March.

Hungry council staff also splashed more than £4,000 of taxpayers’ cash on working lunches from McDonalds and other eateries in the Surrey town.

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One of the largest expenses was to a luxury country house near Worcester where councillors and staff spent almost £4,000 while visiting the Wychavon District Council to “investigate a specific public-private sector strategic commercial partnership”.

Another council officer even spent £25 paying a parking ticket.

Among the expenses was one just before Christmas - £120 on mince pies.

Bill Pallett, the council’s chief finance officer, defended the spend.

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He said: “The ‘staff mince pie’ entry relates to an annual event for staff where the leader and chief executive invite all staff to join them for a mince pie to wish them a happy Christmas.”

“It’s very common nowadays for suppliers to require to be paid by credit card rather than on invoice, particularly those operating online.

He added: “Corporate credit card holders sign a declaration, which includes a provision that the card is only used for council business purchases.

“All purchases made using the cards are subject to relevant management authorisation and to external audit.”

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Andy Silvester from the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “Local residents will be livid at what looks like a total abuse of taxpayers’ money.

“These credit cards are designed only to speed up low-level purchases, not as carte blanche to ring up tabs for fast-food and festive treats.

“There needs to be far more accountability at the Council at a time when we’re trying to make necessary savings, and that means people must be held responsible for wasteful spending like this.”