Council spares no expense for snacks at meetings

A Freedom of Information request revealed that the council spent £7,423.05 last year and £4,144.22 between April and September this year on refreshments at council meetings, held both publicly and in private.
This comes in the wake of £1.25m in cuts to frontline services until April 2015 for the local authority as previously reported by the NWN in February of this year.
West Berkshire Council spokesperson Peta Stoddart-Crompton said: “The Council makes every effort to supply the minimum refreshments at the lowest possible cost.
“Member meetings are provided with tea, coffee and biscuits. Catering contracts are put out to tender to ensure the best value.”
Refreshments served at the council’s more than 300 committee meetings each year are served by Business Lunch Express who are based in Thatcham and Berkshire caterer Toffs Catering.