Annual civic dinner axed

They described the event as a "two-fingered salute" to the rest of the workforce, as dozens of council jobs had recently been cut.

However, at the first full council meeting since the elections, Westminster mayor Councillor Judith Warner announced that next year's dinner would be cut as a gesture of "frugality".

Stephen Higgins, branch secretary of Westminster UNISON, said: "I'm glad that common sense has won over finally.

"We're now in a period of austerity, and all vanity projects that the council and the government engage in need to be reviewed.

"It's nice to thank community groups but if you ask them if they would prefer a civic dinner or cuts to front line services, I think I'd know what they would say.

"The money should be going on jobs. Having money go back into front line jobs work not only for the front line representatives, but for residents, businesses and the council as a whole."

Westminster Council said that this year's event was a chance to thank people in the community for working on behalf of their fellow residents.

In addition to councillors, the people who were invited included representatives of amenity societies, the emergency services and local voluntary groups.

A Westminster Council spokesman said: "At the start of each year at a meeting of the full council we approve spending on, among other items, a civic dinner.

"This is in keeping with the practice of many local authorities.

"This year, given the current tough economic climate we have decided not to host the event.

"The position for the next financial year will be reviewed in due course."