Published: Wednesday, 20th January, 2010 3:00pm

Burns 'booze-up' is 'inappropriate'

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BURNS PLAN: Provost Denis Agnew

A FREE "booze-up" for councillors to celebrate Burns Night has been branded "totally insensitive" by an opposition politician.

All elected members of West Dunbartonshire Council have been sent an invitation from Provost Denis Agnew to a Burns Reception, which he said is to conclude the year of the Homecoming.

But Labour councillor Geoff Calvert, who represents the neighbouring Dumbarton ward, is astonished that the Provost is prepared to use public money to fund the knees-up, just weeks after a swathe of controversial service charges were approved, including nursery and care costs, by the cash-strapped council.

He told the Post: "There is a hospitality budget for this type of thing.

"But the fact there is a budget for things does not mean you have to spend every penny which is in there."

When Councillor Calvert received his invite for the event, which is planned for this Friday in Clydebank Town Hall, he immediately sent a reply to the Provost voicing his anger.

But Provost Agnew, Independent, defended his plans.

He said: "The Burns Celebration is going to cost about £600 - the most important thing I feel is that it's the year of Homecoming.

"People may not realise Robert Burns' connection with West Dunbartonshire, which is very important, he was a Freeman of Dumbarton.

"I think for Dumbarton and West Dunbartonshire to have a connection with the national bard of Scotland is something we should recognise."