Councils' trips cost more than £50k
More than £30,000 has been spent sending Wolverhampton councillors and officers on trips across the world, it has been revealed.
More than £30,000 has been spent sending Wolverhampton councillors and officers on trips across the world, it has been revealed.
Elected members and civil servants across the Black Country and Staffordshire enjoyed visits such as culture trips to Italy, visits to San Diego and Texas in America and a Spanish festival. In Wolverhampton, some of the £30,514 total cost has been paid directly from council coffers.
The rest has been funded through grants and other public bodies.
Councillor Neville Patten, leader of the Tory-Lib Dem alliance now running the authority, said today: "When this issue first emerged late last year, I put a ban on anyone attending conferences or foreign trips unless they paid for it themselves or funding came from an external source. That still stands.
"In light of our current financial situation, I will not allow spending on foreign travel."
Labour leader Councillor Roger Lawrence, whose party was in charge for the period the figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act cover, said: "All items of expenditure are put before cabinet. They are all open and above board – there is no secrecy."
Wolverhampton City Council said more than £26,000 of the total sum spent between November 2007 and 2008 had been provided by other organisations. Spokesman Tim Clark said: "We have not set aside anywhere near £30,000 for trips but if money is given to us by partner agencies for trips, it cannot be spent on anything other than that."
Elsewhere Walsall Council spent £1,840, Stafford spent £1,980 and Cannock Chase came in at £897.07. Dudley's figures were unavailable.
The most expensive trip was paid for by Sandwell – a £10,785.76 trip to Amsterdam for three councillors and three officers to research recycling techniques.
Fiona McEvoy of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "In these tough economic times we're all cutting down on foreign travel and there's no reason our local authorities should be any different.
"Many of these trips are alarmingly expensive."
List of trips paid for by taxpayers
WOLVERHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL
Poland, Walbrzych – several trips by officers and teachers involved with the Leonardo da Vinci project, which provides training work for English Language Teaching Assistants. Total cost £2,388. On some occasions the hotel was paid for by partner town
Hungary, Budapest – three trips involving officers and teachers – total cost £3,955 – induction of new Leonardo students for Leonardo project and monitoring
Spain, Barcelona – two people – £486. Meeting with regard to participation in European network of Cities for Local Integration Policy of Migrants. (Councillor paid for own flight)
Spain, Madrid – one officer – £994. Teacher Training Course – to attend Lifelong Learning programme
Spain, Barcelona – two officers – £294. Attendance at GSMA Mobile World Congress Event in support of Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme
Finland, Karis – one tutor – £1,100. Attendance at Family Learning Practice and Networking Course
India, Jalandhar – two officers and one headteacher – £3,403. To represent Wolverhampton at Next Steps Event
Spain, Barcelona – one officer and one young person – £633. Visit to undertake risk assessment with regard to future visit as part of Certificate of Personal Effectiveness Modules (CoPE) involving a group of young people
Spain, Barcelona – two officers and eight young people – £4,217. International Study Tour – CoPE Awards
USA, San Antonio,Texas – two officers – £3,772. Attendance at the NECC Educational Computer Event
USA, San Diego – one officer, three headteachers – £9,008. To attend conference as part of BSF programme
SANDWELL BOROUGH COUNCIL
Holland – three elected members and three officers – £10,785.76.To see a range of new waste collection, waste treatment and recycling services, as part of Sandwell's Waste Improvement Plan.
Jamaica – two council officers – £3,175.60. The travel was necessary to undertake a fostering viability and carers' assessment.
Germany – chief executive – £640.75. The chief executive attended a managerial training course.
Nice – one council officer and one elected member – £1,250. International Event and Trade Show. RegenCo paid for costs of flights and the Council paid for accommodation.
STAFFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL
Tarragona, Spain (twin town) – three attended – £252. Annual Santa Tecla Festival
Stafford, Virginia, USA (twin town) – three attended – £1,728. Part of delegation visit and twin town trip
WALSALL BOROUGH COUNCIL
Verona Italy – £1,160. Contemporary Art Professional Development Research Trip
Berlin – £330. Educational Resources Exhibition
Nice – £350. Contemporary Art Professional Development Research Trip
CANNOCK CHASE DISTRICT COUNCIL
Datteln, Germany – four people – £897.07. Town Twinning visit
