Outrage Over £4,500 Mayor-Making Feast

Reading council has been criticised after spending £4,598 on food at this year's mayor-making reception.

The figure was revealed by Rob White (Green, Park). Councillor Paul Gittings (Labour, Coley) was made Mayor and Cllr Amjad Tarar (Labour, Battle) deputy. Opposition Greens, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats all chose not to attend the reception.

Cllr White said: "The Green Party believes public spending should reflect the realities facing local people, especially when the council is asking residents to pay more while services remain under pressure.

"We have suggested a simple alternative. Rather than providing free hospitality, councillors and their guests could pay for their own refreshments, or the event could become a fundraiser with proceeds donated to Reading's food bank.

"A civic occasion should celebrate local democracy, but it should also reflect the challenges many families face.

The spend was £268 less than the £4,866 spent in 2025.

A council spokesperson said: "The annual Mayor Making ceremony is an opportunity to thank guests, our incredible community and voluntary sector organisations, charities, and key partners for their enormous and often unseen contribution to everyday life in our town. It is about Civic pride, local democracy, celebrating our town's communities and about representing Reading.

The council also said the Mayor raises thousands for chosen charities; this year's are ABC to Read, Sport in Mind and Refugee Support Group.

The meeting included a performance by Ukrainian choir Kryla while the mayor and deputy were privately sworn in.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter