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Isle of Wight Council has set aside £90,000 to spend on food, travel and venues as part of the Island's PFI roads scheme for the next financial year.
The amount was agreed at last night's (Wednesday) budget meeting.
Independent Councillor Vanessa Churchman told Isle of Wight Radio she was "astounded" when she found out.
"I asked the officers to give me a break down of the PFI budget for the forthcoming year. When I went down it, it showed a budget of £90,000 for travel, venues and refreshments. That's nearly £2000 a week.
"I'm sorry but I can't justify that because every department of this council is being asked to cut. We have cut frontline services and here we are with a budget of £90,000 for travel and meals. It just doesn't make sense to me."
However the local authority has defended the move, claiming it would have to spend even more money if the PFI meetings were held on the Isle of Wight rather than in London.
The council's economy and environment director Stuart Love said, "This budget is to cover the expenses of staff who are required to spend a considerable amount of time working on the project in London with our advisors, Government officials and bidders.
It is cheaper for our staff to spend the required time in London than it would be to pay the expenses of others who would otherwise be required to come regularly to the Island.
This approach has been agreed at the outset of the project and has been budgeted for.
These costs must also be viewed in the context of the huge benefits that the PFI will bring from April next year when we will start work to upgrade the Island's highways network with £260 million of Government grant."
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