A council has come under fire for spending £1,500 of tax payers’ money on an Oscar-themed party for staff to mark the end of the authority’s life.

The glitzy bash at the Civic Hall in Trowbridge tomorrow is, according to West Wiltshire District Council, being held to say thank you to its staff for their hard work before the council disappears on April 1.

But one former member of staff and the Tax Payers’ Alliance have criticised the council for spending public money at a time when people are losing jobs.

Five people were made redundant from the district council as part of the transition to a unitary authority.

A Trowbridge resident, who asked to remain anonymous but who previously worked at the district council, said: “I would have thought if there was any underspend it would be transferred to the new Wiltshire Council, the unitary authority, and if there was any slack that needs to be spent I think people would appreciate it going to local community groups which provide benefit to people living here.

“If they want to have a party they should fund it entirely through ticket sales. No one would object to that.

“In other times perhaps people wouldn’t object to this so much but not when so many people are worrying about their jobs and paying their bills.”

Mark Wallace, campaign director of the Tax Payers’ Alliance, said: “These are not good times to be doing something like this. Frankly the council shouldn’t be holding these parties in order to express their sympathies with hard working people.”

A district council spokesman defended arrangements for the Oscar-themed party, saying staff would be covering the majority of costs themselves by paying £10 a ticket, but that around £1,500 to pay for the venue and ‘some minor expenses’ would be funded by the council.

Communications officer James McCron said: “This came from underspends within the council’s budget to prepare for local government reorganisation.”

The staff bash follows a two-hour gathering for councillors past and present last Friday at Longleat House.

The celebrations were paid for out of the council chairman’s annual civic reception fund and £1,500 was raised for charity.

Facilities and hire of the hall were also provided free by Lord Bath in his role as honorary patron of Wessex Chamber of Commerce.