Ratepayers foot lunch, drinks bills

The City of Bunbury’s five executive officers spent about $132,550 of ratepayers’ money in the past two financial years on food, drinks, travel, accommodation, conferences and training.

Since July 1 this year, the executives have spent $23,115 of the $72,212 of expenses allowed in this year’s budget.

The figures were made public after ousted Bunbury mayor David Smith asked questions at a council meeting earlier this month.

Mr Smith asked the council how much had been spent on the executives’ conference registrations, accommodation, meals and refreshments.

The council released the figures but refused to provide a breakdown to include how much had been spent by executives on entertaining others, taxi fares, car hire and other ancillary expenses.

In response, Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan has instructed the spending of previous mayors and councillors also be made public.

Executives can also claim reimbursements for parking, taxis and meals when away from home.

City chief executive officer Andrew Brien spent $5260 on food and beverages in 2011-12, $3736 in 2012-13 and has this financial year spent $979.

He claimed a further $2402 in reimbursements.

Mr Brien has a meetings expenses budget of $7200 to spend each year on meals and drinks.

He said the budget could be used if he was attending lunches with stakeholders, for example Lotterywest.

Mr Brien said the executives did not have to provide the council with a list of who they ate with but all expenses were accounted for and authorised.

In the 2011-12 financial year, $19,237 was spent by executives on food and beverages and $42,009 on conference registrations and training.

In the 2012-13 financial year $31,308 was spent by executives on travel and accommodation and $30,789 on conference registrations and training.

Unlike councillors, executives who attend conferences are not required to provide a written report when they return to work.

“Training is identified and monitored by the City of Bunbury and is an operational issue,” Mr Brien said.

The council noted the significant increase in 2012-13 expenses was due to the council’s trips to Setagaya, in Japan, and Jiaxing, in China, as part of the Sister City relationships.