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A DVD signed by Colin Firth, pet cats, cigarettes and even nipple balm were among hundreds of gifts accepted by London council officials.
Power lunches and tickets for sports events were also among presents offered by grateful service users and clients.
The Standard was sent publicly available data covering 2009 to 2012 by London councils after a Freedom of Information Act request.
Westminster council workers had the most offers with 1,100 gifts and hospitality packages recorded, although many were returned. Its special events team was sent some of the more glamorous gifts, including a DVD of The King’s Speech autographed by Firth as a thank-you for help with location filming. The team also accepted the “Agent Provocateur nipple balm and sample-size perfumes” from the lingerie firm’s marketing manager.
But a Tiffany necklace and earrings given to Westminster trading standards by the American jewellers’ Old Bond Street branch were returned. A Westminster council spokesman said: “The samples from Agent Provocateur were given out free to the public while the Colin Firth DVD was sent to a member of staff for their hard work in helping with the filming of The King’s Speech.”
In Wandsworth, bailiffs the JBW Group paid for £200 tickets for officials to attend the British Parking Awards, while a rent collection officer was given rosary beads from a service user. Wandsworth said the tickets were accepted because the council and bailiffs were shortlisted for parking awards.
In the City, the Ukrainian ambassador came armed with bottles of vodka, while Taiwanese officials brought pineapple cake. An Enfield finance director declined dinner at The Ivy from a finance firm, but accepted a “one-time opportunity” from technology contractor Serco to watch the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee pageant from a prime riverside spot.
An Enfield spokesman said the pageant was attended “with a number of other representatives from local government, as this was a major event in the history of the monarchy and nation”.
Newham’s head of communications stayed “courtesy of various sponsors” for three nights in Cannes for a property show at a cost of nearly £1,100, plus travel and meals. A spokesman said the trip was “to promote regeneration and employment opportunities across the borough”. Officials at the London 2012 host borough received more than 30 free tickets for Olympic and Paralympic events.
A Merton planning officer declared smoking the cigarettes he was offered, but the frozen turkey sent to the council’s press office was binned.
In Hammersmith & Fulham, a social worker was given kittens. She declared: “When I visited the family, I commented on how lovely the kittens were. The family informed me the kittens did not have homes and asked whether I was interested. I informed the family I was.”
London Councils, the parent body for local authorities, said all gifts must be declared even if they are rejected.