COUNCILLORS have approved a £39,000 budget for civic events and hospitality for the remainder of the financial year.

Members met for the first time since the local authority election last Wednesday and expenditure of civic events and hospitality was one of the items under discussion.

A report that went before members said: "This report asks the Council to approve the current practice for the authorisation of expenditure in relation to civic events and hospitality.

"The current arrangements have operated satisfactorily under the previous Council and officers have no concerns about the arrangements continuing under any new Administration who are appointed following the elections in

May.

"It is recommended that the Council should continue the existing arrangements for authorising expenditure in relation to civic events and hospitality as outlined."

The total budget for civic events and hospitality has been split into two categories of expenditure: Civic Events (£7,000), Provost’s Hospitality (£32,000).

The current practice is that the Provost's Office organises small scale civic events and hospitality and any decision to hold larger events are made by Council or committee, with the exception of the Provost’s Civic Awards Ceremony which is jointly funded by the Council and by sponsorship.

Strictly speaking the Local Government (Scotland) Act does not allow decisions to be delegated to individual members so such decisions are taken by officers, in consultation with and on the recommendation of the Provost.

The present procedure is that on this basis officers can "authorise expenditure" up to a maximum of £1,000 per event, within overall budgetary limits.

For events where total expenditure is over £1,000, approval of such events also requires the agreement of the Leader of the Council in advance of the expenditure being incurred.

The budget is operated and monitored by officers and all invoices are paid in accordance with the Council’s financial regulations and procedures.

The report adds: "Although civic functions may not feature as a specific heading under the Council’s strategic priorities, they play a key role in promoting the work of the Council and the people of West Dunbartonshire both within and outwith the Council’s area."

The items was agreed by the councillors at last week's meting of the new-look authority.