Council bosses made a “mysterious decision” to pay Peter Andre £20,000 to switch on Christmas lights, according to taxpayer groups.
Perth and Kinross Council were forced to reveal the payment after a ruling by the Scottish Information Commissioner, following a nine-month disclosure battle.
Peter Andre received the fee for a 30-minute performance in 2014 with his backing band, Jack Pack, paid a further £4000.
The council spent a further £8000 on disco stars Boney M to play at Perth’s Christmas party in November and £4500 on travel, accommodation, and other expenses.
Chief executive of Taxpayers’ Alliance Jonathan Isaby said there was “simply no excuse” for the spend.
He said: “What a mysterious decision. Taxpayers will wonder what councils think they’re doing.
“When they’re trying to make necessary savings while protecting frontline services, there is simply no excuse for such extraordinary spending on vanity projects.
“Those responsible for this decision must be held accountable.”
However the council called the concert a “highlight of the Winter Festival programme”, drawing 93,849 people to the city centre and generating £1.9m for the local economy.
A spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council said: “Following an order from the Scottish Information Commissioner, the council is releasing the fees paid to artists for the 2014 Perth Christmas lights switch on.
“Revealing these fees seriously jeopardises our ability to secure headline acts for future events and indeed, we have already received correspondence from the entertainment industry to this effect.”
Councillor John Kellas, convener of the enterprise and infrastructure committee, said: “Overall the Winter Festival was a great success and the contribution to Perth in terms of the economic impact and the number of people visiting the city are a testament to that fact.
“From the number of people in Perth that weekend alone it is clear that the expense on celebrities is worthwhile.
“The winter festival programme is still a fairly new concept to the Perth, but year on year the event has gotten bigger and better, and we are learning from each one.
“It is disappointing that we are having to reveal these figures, and the potential impact this will have in the council being able to secure a high profile, popular celebrity personality for future event is a concern to the continued success of the Winter Festival and Christmas Light Switch On event.”
Dundee.stv