Rugby, opera and dinners – perks add up for councillors
SIX Nations tickets, a cage fighting trip and German wine – just some of the perks of being a Cardiff councillor over the past two years.
Cardiff council members and officers have received hundreds of pounds worth of hospitality and gifts since the start of 2018.
They include tickets to major Wales rugby games at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, a Nations League Wales football match and a Cage Warriors event.
Councillors have also been given tickets to theatre and opera performances, while council officers have been given sports tickets and dinners.
Elected members have also been flown to conferences in China, Qatar, Romania and the south of France.
Councillors have to declare gifts worth more than £25 within 28 days to the council’s monitoring officer.
The costs of attending conferences can be met either by the council itself or the organiser of the event.
Lists of hospitality and gifts received by councillors and officers are published every year.
Over the past two years, council leader Huw Thomas, Lord Mayor for 2018-19 Dianne Rees and deputy Lord Mayor that year Rod McKerlich have appeared most frequently on the list.
In 2018 Cllr Thomas was given tickets to the Wales v France Six Nations match by energy company Centrica, England v India in the IT20 Series at Sofia Gardens, and a performance of War and Peace by the Welsh National Opera.
In March this year he was given a ticket to St David’s Day with BBC National Orchestra and Chorus Wales.
Cllr Rees was given gifts such as tickets to the Wales v South Africa rugby match in November last year, and a number of events as part of her role. These included private dinners with the honorary consul of Slovakia and formal events with Cardiff Metropolitan University, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the Royal College of Nursing.
Cllr Rees also attended a tea party event by the Noah’s Ark children’s hospital charity – in her year as mayor she helped to raise more than £100,000 for the charity.
Cllr McKerlich received German wine and confectionery from Hofen Youth Brass Band from Stuttgart, a dinner with the Believe Charity and a buffet from Pentrych Community Council.
Cllr McKerlich said: “By and large the people who invited us were most appreciative of Cardiff council presenting itself in a good light.”
Other gifts to Cardiff councillors include licensing committee member Joel Williams being given tickets to a Cage Warriors event, plus refreshments, by Ice Arena Wales in December last year.
Cllr Michael Michael attended the Wales v Ireland Nations League match with a ticket courtesy of the Football Association of Wales in October 2018.
Cllr Peter Bradbury received a ticket to the Welsh Proms at St David’s Hall last year, while Cardiff Metropolitan University provided a ticket and hospitality to the Cardiff Blues v Connacht Pro14 match in January.
In April this year Cllr Thomas attended a Music Cities Convention in Chengdu, China – the trip, which cost £1,477.28, was paid for by organiser Sound Diplomacy.
Council chief executive Paul Orders attended the Property Awards in Grosvenor House, London, courtesy of developer Rightacres, a celebration by Qatar Airways to mark its launch at Cardiff Airport and two tickets from WRU for Wales v Australia at the Principality Stadium in November.