UK councils use public cash to ship officers to jamboree in France

Apr 30, 2023 at 7:34 PM

Councils splashed out tens of 1000’s of kilos sending delegates to an alcohol-soaked property jamboree on the French Riviera.

Dozens of city corridor officers spent three days within the sunshine on the annual Mipim convention in Cannes in March.

The convention was held as hard-pressed house owners throughout the nation braced themselves for steep will increase of their council tax payments.

Some councils had been sponsored to attend, however a number of used public cash to ship officers – prompting accusations that they had been having fun with a “taxpayer-funded jolly”.

At least £138,299.57 was spent by councils attending the convention, with additional spending by taxpayer-backed organisations.

Critics blasted the largesse and stated the cash ought to have been spent on important providers as an alternative.

Mipim is the world’s largest property convention, the place leaders of the true property sector together with attorneys, brokers, bankers and landlords community on a sea of champagne.

Labour-run Manchester City council spent £68,593.10 to ship delegates to the occasion, together with flights, lodging and passes.

The authority, which covers among the most disadvantaged areas within the nation, not too long ago bumped up council tax by 5 p.c.

A Manchester City Council spokesperson stated: “Manchester City Council attends MIPIM as part of a business-led partnership led by Marketing Manchester.

“The overwhelming majority of the prices to the Council relate to our contribution to the Manchester partnership organised by Marketing Manchester together with the annual subscription to MIPIM. A small delegation of 4 council officers attended the occasion. The prices for the delegation – together with journey and lodging – had been the most affordable accessible on the time of reserving.”

Wigan Council splashed out £16,511.78 to send delegates to the event.

A spokesperson said the event “represents an incredible opportunity” to sell Wigan Borough as a great place to visit and invest.

“The vast majority of our costs represent our contribution to the Greater Manchester partnership organised by Marketing Manchester,” they said. “The spend also covered travel and accommodation for two council officers.”

The MIPIM real estate conference, in Cannes, saw at least 68 council officials and councillors attend, from 43 councils

Council officials were photographed drinking wine and beer, as well as going for rounds of golf, while delegations from different UK regions, including council officials, were photographed on the beach.

UK quangos, Whitehall departments and devolved governments were also in attendance, including the Department for Business and Trade, Homes England, the Welsh Government and the devolved governments of London and the West Midlands.

Homes England, a quango, put on a drinks reception, as did Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester.

Wolverhampton City Council sent three officials to the event, costing £9,433.22.

A City of Wolverhampton Council spokesperson said: “We have generated millions of pounds worth of investment for the city thanks to raising its profile at MIPIM.

“We are determined to continue to create more jobs and opportunities for the residents of Wolverhampton which this global investment event allows us to do.”

Lincolnshire County Council dolled out £16,567.63 to send delegates to the conference. This was funded by sponsorship from the Lincolnshire Enterprise Partnership, a body which receives the bulk of its funding from government grants.

Justin Brown, assistant director for growth at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Representatives from Lincolnshire businesses and the council attend this event to connect with global companies and key decision-makers that are interested in investing and locating in our county, particularly in logistics, agri-tech and warehousing sectors.

“The council’s objective of attracting inward investment is delegated to us from the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership who entirely fund the visit, although costs are kept as low as possible.”

Gateshead Council splashed out £4,352.95, Leicester Council £1,978.26, Solihull Council and Barnet Council £1,038.07.

One Conservative MP said: “This looks like a taxpayer-funded jolly to me.

“People facing council tax hikes will be fuming.”

Elliot Keck of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “Council tax has simply gone up but once more throughout the nation, and taxpayers will wish to know why councils nonetheless cannot present restraint on abroad journeys. Households are being squeezed from each aspect and are informed by public sector officers that there is no extra fats to trim, which is tough to imagine as they jet off to the French Riviera. Local authorities should work lots more durable to ship worth for taxpayers’ hard-earned money.”

A spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: “The regeneration and growth of our towns and cities is of vital importance to councils and the communities they serve, but it is not possible to achieve with public money alone.

“Each council will approach growth and regeneration differently and decisions to attend are a local matter based on local circumstances and approval processes.

“Attendance at such world-leading property markets allows councils to give profile to the places they serve, as well as promoting projects, achievements and development opportunities to major decision makers, intermediaries in the international property market and investors.”