COUNCIL bosses have cut back on their spending on visiting dignitaries.

New figures today revealed the city's budget for civic hospitality would be UNDERSPENT this year in what insiders say reflects a growing culture of austerity in the local authority.

Glasgow currently earmarks around £600,000 from its Common Good Fund - a historic kitty set aside for the benefit of citizens - for often lavish events.

However, with just 10 weeks of the 2013-14 financial year left, officials have still to commit £177,000 of that money, almost a third of the total.

Councillors will pass any underspend on to the next financial year, which will, of course, include the Commonwealth Games.

But many are already wondering if they can cut back further on the civic receptions and lunches they host.

Green Party councillor Martha Wardrop said: "Any underspend at March 31 should be carried forward and reduce the overall contribution ­required from the Common Good Fund in next financial year. It may be there is a need to review the requirement for a civic hospitality of £598,000 in 2014-15.

"There is further debate required on how much of the community good fund is given to civic hospitality."

Most councillors agree the that some money for council entertaining should come from the Common Good.

But members have already cut the amount that comes from the ancient budget.

The fund used to pay for receptions for visiting delegates to major conferences. Now this cash comes from Glasgow's City Marketing Board.

The council has stopped subsidising lunches in its exclusive dining room for councillors and senior executives from Common Good.

Insiders speak of a gradual shift in attitudes to such spending by members and their staffs, including the current Lord Provost, Sadie Docherty.

Paul Rooney, the city treasurer, said: "For some years, the council's policy has been to preserve the value of the Common Good Fund and our investment managers aim to make a positive annual return after all expenses.

"In fact, the value of the fund has increased quite significantly since this policy was adopted. Spending on civic hospitality has also changed slightly in recent years, with some events now funded from elsewhere.

"As things stand, we look likely to report an underspend against that budget at the end of the current financial year."

A century ago Glasgow's Common Good Fund was worth more than £100m.

By 2009 its value was £13.4 million. It had recovered to £16.2 million at 31 March 2013.