Angry councillors say they will boycott a £2,000 champagne reception announced by Wiltshire Council in the same week it said 240 members of its staff will lose their jobs.

Liberal Democrat leader Jon Hubbard has asked his group of 24 councillors to decline the invitation to the event, due to be held on April 29 at Bowood Golf Club, owned by Lord Lansdowne, a member of the North Wiltshire Conservative Association. Last year’s reception at Bowood cost £2,300.

The reception is held twice annually – once in the north of the county and once in the south. Brigadier Robert Hall, chairman of the council, will host the event. Organisations that are partnered with the council will be represented.

Coun Hubbard said: “I fail to see that after announcing that 240 jobs are to be cut there is anything to celebrate. They are sacking staff and then planning to hold a party. I cannot understand how anyone could see it reasonable for councillors to be quaffing champagne and canapés at the public’s expense while making people redundant.

“Our group will not be attending and I urge all councillors of all parties to join us in boycotting this abhorrent self congratulatory booze up, paid for by cutting staff and services.

“It is right that we thank the partners that work hard alongside the council but we should not be partying on the public purse. They could host this event at a fraction of the cost in the County Hall.

“We have the venue, we have the caterers and it’d be cheaper.”

Lib Dems in North Wiltshire are against the reception. Chippenham councillor Bill Douglas said the council would get flak from constituents if it went ahead.

He said: “I didn’t attend last year because I thought it was a waste of money then and I certainly won’t be this year. In the current economic climate it is a ridiculous situation for the council to be shaking hands and congratulating itself after announcing job cuts.

“I would urge Conservative councillors to advise their leader to rethink. It is not an issue of party politics, All councillors will be getting grief from their constituents. It is a complete public relations blunder.”

Malmesbury councillor Simon Killane agreed. He said: “I think it would be far more sensible to have it at County Hall. We have receptions in Malmesbury celebrating the good initiatives going on and a cup of coffee and some biscuits is fine by me.”

Calne councillor Howard Marshall added: “When the council is trying to save money in all areas, to splash out on a reception like that is immoral.

“I will not be attending.”

But the Devizes Guardians on the council are less worried about the expenditure. Coun Nigel Carter, the spokesman for the four Devizes Guardians, said: “Council business has to continue. It would not be for me to condemn something that has been a normal part of council business for many years.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “The likely cost for a reception, including venue hire, is around £2,000. This April’s reception was also held in Bowood and cost £2,300.”

Wiltshire Council leader Jane Scott said: “There’s a fund in the council that has been there for years that is used by the chairman if he has to give hospitality for anyone. To this date he has not spent any of the £10,000 allocated for this year.

“He is the civic ambassador for the county. It is his way of reciprocating the council’s gratitude to its partners and the people who have helped it throughout the year.

“This chairman has chosen a private sector venue as it is a good way of supporting that sector and it helps to promote that place to outside bodies.

“He will, however, be re-considering where he will hold it when we come to look at the budget. It will be up to the chairman to decide. I am sure he will be looking at it carefully.”

Asked about the councillors who say they will boycott the event, Coun Scott added: “That is up to the individual councillors if they come to it or not.”

Brigadier Hall was unavailable for comment.