FURIOUS showbiz agents have refused to supply a Scots council with celebrities – after the cost of Peter Andre’s Christmas light switch-on was revealed.
Agents acting for the Mysterious Girl singer told Perth council chiefs they will no longer provide them with stars after the local authority was forced to reveal taxpayer fees for his appearance.
Perth and Kinross Council forked out £20,000 for Andre to appear at its Winter Festival celebrations in November.
The fee, branded “extortionate” by councillors, was finally revealed after a nine-month disclosure battle.
The council had originally wanted to keep the costs secret, arguing that Andre and other stars on the bill had signed a confidentiality contract.
But they were forced to publicly declare a breakdown of payments after a ruling by Scotland’s information commissioner.
And now, it has emerged that agents involved in the show are refusing to help the council out on further events.
Their comments were revealed following a further Freedom of Information request.
Talent firms were told by a local authority spokesman: “As you know, acts such as Peter Andre and Boney M were supplied by you in respect of the event.
“Contracts were signed with yourselves at the time of the booking which prohibited the disclosure of fee paid.”
Explaining that the commissioner had ordered the individual artists’ fees to be released, he added: “The notice makes it reasonably clear that the commissioner considers that any similar information should be disclosed in the future.”
Confidential
In response, one agent, whose details were withheld, replied: “This information is confidential and not for public knowledge.
“I can no longer supply you with talent.”
Another agent said: “I understand freedom to know how much has been spent on the event ‘overall’, but not individual fees which are private and confidential.
“A contract was signed to prevent this very thing from happening.”
He asked: “Can we appeal this decision, as it is detrimental to the future of further events?”
The council revealed that disco stars Boney M were paid £8,000 for their appearance, while Britain’s Got Talent favourites Jack Pack received £4,000.
The Lorraine Crosby Band was paid £1,200, and the council forked out £1,000 for another singer.
They also spent £4,500 on travel, accommodation and other expenses.
Councillor John Flynn branded the fees “extortionate”. At the time, he said: “We are elected members but we don’t get a say on who performs and how much they get paid.
“I don’t think councillors would have voted for this.”
The local authority claims that stars such as Andre helped bring about 94,000 people into the city centre for the switch-on, generating £1.9 million – although this figure includes a normal day’s trading.
The council previously came under fire for spending £7,000 on reality TV star Mark Wright, who hosted the switch-on ceremony in 2013.
