I wouldn't call it money well spent but at the same time it is money that comes from a civic budget allocated from the Scottish Governement and not money that is being removed directly from the councils budget.

Also says in the article that she is on about £41k a year. Decent salary but in council terms that around the top of a grade 7. I know plenty of folk who work for the council who are on a higher wage than she is. Given she is the public face of the council i have few objections to her being allocated a budget and that she shouldn't be expected to pay for the majority of this stuff herself.

Tabloids slanting the story towards shoes and pedicures is taking a slightly inflamatory sexist angle on the spending as well.