Property expo trip to Cannes defended by Solihull chief
THE decision to spend thousands of pounds on a trip to a property conference in France, which sparked debate earlier this year, has been defended by Solihull Council’s Deputy Leader.
The council was among several local authorities criticised for using taxpayers’ money to fund a visit to the MIPIM event in Cannes, which took place in March.
It was reported at the time that it had cost in the region of £17,500 to send two councillors and two officers on a trip to attract investment into the borough. Some residents had attacked the visit, believing it to be a waste of public funds.
Solihull Council confirmed that £10,035 of the total bill was met by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), with the Urban Growth Company, set up by the borough council, covering the remainder of the costs.
Referencing the controversy at a meeting last week, Cllr Ade Adeyemo (Lib Dem, Lyndon) had asked why the council had decided to send a delegation to France when London also hosts an annual MIPIM event.
Deputy Leader Cllr Ian Courts, who had joined the Leader, Cllr Bob Sleigh, on the overseas visit, argued that the UK event had “nothing like the profile” of the equivalent conference in Cannes and that it was crucial that the council met major international investors.
“When you’re in business you have to do some of these things,” he said. “And if a pound brings in a hundred we do it.”
Cllr Max McLoughlin (Green, Shirley South) said: “I could understand why we were there and I would defend why we were there. I found it much harder defending having... two elected members and two officers.
“The audience might be outside of the country, but (the strategy) has to be completely understood and justifiable and defensible to the people of the borough, otherwise they’re not going to feel that they’re getting their value for money.”
MIPIM Cannes is the world’s largest property conference and networking event and is held annually on the French Riviera.
Shropshire, Southampton and Croydon were among the other councils to attend the 2018 event.
In the case of Solihull, one of the top priorities was promoting opportunities offered by UK Central – the name given to the area which is home to the airport and NEC and will also be the location for the HS2 interchange station.
Plans for the UK Central PR strategy for the current financial year were discussed at Cllr Courts’ decision session last Tuesday.