Six Nations tickets, a cage fighting trip and German wine - just some of the perks of being a Cardiff councillor over the past two years.

Cardiff Council members and officers have received hundreds of pounds worth of hospitality and gifts since the start of 2018.

They include tickets to major Wales rugby games at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, a Nations League Wales football match and a Cage Warriors event.

Councillors have also been given tickets to theatre and opera performances, while council officers have been given sports tickets and complimentary dinners.

Elected members have also been jetted off to conferences in China, Qatar, Romania and the south of France.

Councillors have to declare gifts worth more than £25 within 28 days to the council's monitoring officer.

The costs of attending conferences can be met either by the council itself or the organiser of the event.

Lists of hospitality and gifts received by councillors and officers are published every year .

Over the past two years, council leader Huw Thomas, lord mayor for 2018/19 Dianne Rees and deputy lord mayor that year Rod McKerlich have appeared most frequently on the list.

In 2018 Cllr Thomas was given tickets to the Wales v France Six Nations match by energy company Centrica, England v India in the IT20 Series at Sofia Gardens, and a performance of War and Peace by the Welsh National Opera.

George North (left) tackles France's Remy Grosso (right)
George North (left) tackles France's Remy Grosso (right)

In March this year Cllr Thomas was given a ticket to St David's Day with BBC National Orchestra and Chorus Wales.

Cllr Rees was given gifts such as a tickets to the Wales v South Africa rugby match in November last year, and a number of events as part of her role.

These included private dinners with the honorary consul of Slovakia, and formal events with Cardiff Metropolitan University, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the Royal College of Nursing.

Cllr Rees also attended a tea party event by the Noah's Ark children's hospital charity- in her year as mayor she helped to raise more than £100,000 for the charity.

Cllr McKerlich received German wine and confectionery from Hofen Youth Brass Band, from Stuttgart, adinners with the Believe Charity and a buffet from Pentrych Community Council.

Cllr McKerlich said councillors who attend these events often spend their own money at the events.

He said: "By and large the people who invited us were most appreciative of Cardiff council presenting itself in a good light."

Other gifts to Cardiff councillors include Licensing Committee member Joel Williams being given tickets to a Cage Warriors event, plus refreshments, by Ice Arena Wales in December last year.

Aaron Khalid (right) during Cage Warriors 100

Cllr Michael Michael attended the Wales v Ireland Nations League match with a ticket courtesy of the Football Association of Wales in October 2018.

Cllr Peter Bradbury received a ticket to the Welsh Proms at St David's Hall last year, while Cardiff Metropolitan University provided a ticket and hospitality to the Cardiff Blues v Connacht Pro14 match in January.

Senior councillors have also attended conferences across the world.

In April this year Cllr Thomas attended a Music Cities Convention in Chengdu, China - the trip, which cost £1,477.28 and was paid for by organiser Sound Diplomacy.

A delegation from Cardiff council visited Qatar and Romania in September last year in a bid to secure trade and investment deals for the city. It cost a total of £1,297.32 taxpayers' money for Cllr Thomas to attend the events.

Chengdu, China

Also in September Cllr Susan Elsmore attended a 'Rumourless Cities' trans-national workshop in Lisbon, Portugal, which cost the council £710.

In March this year Cllrs Thomas and Russell Goodway attended the MIPIM international property event in Cannes in the south of France - which between both of them cost the council more than £6,000.

A council spokesman said: “The council undertook a soft launch of the Atlantic Wharf development, which includes the new Arena in the Bay, at MIPIM. This led to a number of leads and subsequent dialogue with potential investors.

"The council delegation was part of a partnership with the private sector and City Deal partners aimed at promoting the city’s leading professional services businesses, and Cardiff as an investment destination.

"Over the course of the conference the council’s delegation met a number of potential investors in the city, and several key leads were generated. The leader’s attendance in Chengdu was paid for by the organiser and centred around Sound Diplomacy’s Music Strategy work in the city.”

Cardiff council officers have also claimed gifts such as sports tickets and dinners.

Council chief executive Paul Orders has attended the Property Awards in Grosvenor House in London courtesy of developer Rightacres, a celebration hosted by Qatar Airways to mark its launch at Cardiff Airport, and two tickets from WRU for Wales v Australia at the Principality Stadium in November.

Museum manager Victoria Rogers was given tickets to Wales v Scotland in November by the Community Foundation in Wales, while three civil enforcement officers attended the British Parking Association Awards in London's Royal Lancaster Hotel in March, paid for by private companies Smart Parking and Chipside.