A COUNCIL making cuts worth £75 million is paying £15,000, for the second year in a row, to get a celebrity to switch on a town's Christmas lights.
X Factor star Stacey Solomon will be paid the same amount as singer Olly Murs controversially received last year, despite a three-year regime of cuts worth £75m being imposed at the Renfrewshire Council.
The council says it is saving £30,000 by combining the Christmas switch-on with a Bonfire Night fireworks display in Paisley on Saturday, November 5.
A Renfrewshire Council spokesman said: “We are balancing making savings with putting on a top-quality event and are bringing in business sponsorship.
“Renfrewshire’s events strategy has proved successful in attracting visitors and bringing in the spending power of crowds approaching 30,000, which helps support business in Paisley town centre. Having a popular headline act is vital to bringing in the crowds.”
Renfrewshire Provost Celia Lawson said: “Stacey is extremely popular and a fantastic singer so I’m delighted she’s coming to switch on the Christmas lights in Paisley.”
Labour councillor Mike Holmes said: “The SNP-led administration has clearly not learned its lesson from last year.
“This year we have seen hundreds of staff made redundant, and terms and conditions reduced among the lowest-paid council staff.
“We have seen charges increased for services for the elderly and most vulnerable. Yet they still feel able to shell out for someone to press a button and sing a couple of songs.”
Solomon’s agent declined to comment on the £15,000 fee. Last year, Olly Murs donated his fee to charity after a storm over the council pay-out.
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