Edinburgh Council’s three year tea and biscuit bill close to £50K

Edinburgh Council has spent more than £10,000 over the past three years on biscuits and hot drinks for guests and staff at meetings.

Campaigners today demanded the sweet-toothed authority rein in its spending at a time when taxpayers are tightening their belts.

Edinburgh is one of a number of Scottish councils that continue to spend thousands of pounds annually on free drinks and snacks at meetings. Dozens of councils refused to reveal the amount they spent.

Budget cuts at cash-strapped Edinburgh Council include reducing funding for dozens of charitable organisations, making cuts to the city’s library services and a proposed loss of around 1,200 public sector jobs.

The council spent £46,992.62 on teas, coffees and biscuits for meetings and events, supplied by contractors Matthew Algae and wholesalers 3663, according to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act.

And the spending on biscuits has increased by 26% in the past year, going up from £13,834.80 in 2009-10 to £17,449.04 in 2011-12.

A council spokesman said the vast majority of the goods were sold on in the staff canteen, with around a quarter being used for meetings.

Emma Boon of Taxpayers Alliance Scotland said the costs should be kept “under control” by the council.

She said: “Whilst taxpayers might not mind the council offering tea and coffee to visitors, these costs should be kept under control.

“The council should try to keep the cost of internal meetings down. Cutting back on Hob Nobs isn’t going to save millions, but it shows the right attitude at a time when taxpayers are tightening their own belts.”

A Council spokesman said: “Any suggestion that this money is spent handing out free coffee, tea and biscuits would be completely wrong.

“The majority of these goods go into the staff and other canteens and are for sale to generate income.

“They are used for meetings, events and hospitality organised by the Council which employs 17,000 people.

“All possible procurement options are explored to secure the most cost-effective options.”

Edinburgh is not the only sweet-toothed council in Scotland. Since 2009, Midlothian Council has spent £21,839.

However, West Dunbartonshire said it had banned free tea, coffee and biscuits from council committee and meetings since 2010.

Dozens of councils, including Glasgow, refused to provide the information, claiming it would cost too much to investigate or the information was not available.