An array of Ryder Cup freebies and drinks packages totalling thousands of pounds were dished out to high-ranking Perth and Kinross Council employees.
New data has revealed regular offers to top level employees by organisers in the run up to the prestigious 2014 event at Gleneagles including a £320 “Ryder Cup outfit” accepted by chief executive Bernadette Malone.
A gifts and hospitality register published on the council’s website details a list of items handed over, including a hospitality package for the prestigious event from the Scottish Government the value of which the council did not reveal.
On the Ryder Cup website, hospitality packages for sale ranged from £345 to £1,750 per person dependent on the day of play and suite selected.
In contrast the register also showed that another major event, T in the Park, offered music festival tickets to council staff, but they were declined.
Dozens of golf-related gifts or hospitality events have been put before the local authority since August 2013.
While the total value of tangible Ryder Cup items offered breached £1,000 over that period, neither the council nor Ryder Cup Europe saw fit to put a price on the significant levels of hospitality received.
Perth councillor Alexander Stewart called for “close monitoring” of all gifts and hospitality.
He said: “I appreciate that an event of this magnitude will always attract sponsorship and hospitality, but it could be misinterpreted.
“For example, the attendance at gala dinners or providing chief officers with opportunities to attend other premium golfing events held in the UK.
“There needs to be a close monitoring of these gifts and hospitality and I would hope that all had been registered and acknowledged by these individuals on behalf of Perth and Kinross Council.”
A council spokesman said: “Perth and Kinross Council’s gifts and hospitality policy states that gifts and hospitality should only be accepted where there is no risk of compromising the council and that the council maintains a public register of all significant gifts and hospitality accepted or rejected.
“Offers of gifts and hospitality below the value of £25 can be accepted without the need for permission or recording unless they are received on a recurring basis.”
A spokesman for Ryder Cup Europe said: “Ryder Cup Europe would normally invite key stakeholders to hospitality who have assisted in staging and delivering events.”
The Perth and Kinross register also contained a sometimes bizarre array of gifts and hospitality offered by a wide variety of other companies and individuals.
One care assistant recorded receiving a second hand wedding veil worth less than £50 from a member of the public.
In March this year a department head knocked back an offer to attend a Six Nations rugby dinner worth £300, but head of education Peter McAvoy accepted an SFA match ticket as part of a conference programme.
While chief executive Bernadette Malone was happy to accept Ryder Cup invitations she declined an offer of lunch for two at the World Bowls Tour championships.
Elsewhere, an Angus Council employee received a £2,000 cash gift following the death of a local service user.
The four-figure amount was made to an officer in the care section of the social work and health department.
Data provided by the local authority showed the sum was accepted by the staff member as a “legacy” payment from the resident’s estate.
The gift was among almost 40 declared to the council’s gifts and hospitality register since April 2013.
A council spokesman said councillors and employees must be “personally responsible” for decisions to accept gifts and hospitality and their actions must not “damage the reputation of the council”.
Other items registered by Angus Council included a £300 day at the Open in St Andrews accepted by economic development.
Dundee City Council has accepted just seven gifts since April 2013, according to its register.
The council confirmed it does not record details of any offers that have been turned down.