£128k spent on flights by city council
Sunderland City Council chiefs have defended spending almost £130,000 on flights for its employees to other countries last year – insisting it helped trigger new jobs and investment for Wearside.
A Freedom of Information request carried out by the Taxpayers’ Alliance found that the authority spent £128,080.50 on 68.5 flights to Europe and 13 flights to other world destinations.
As part of that, the authority spent £26,583 on six business class flights to Tokyo.
The council was the highest-spending on flights out of all North East local authorities.
Two of the flights were for premium economy while nine were in business class.
But council bosses have defended the figures, saying that the authority has a policy of flying business class for flights longer than eight hours. They added that the city has seen £500million of foreign investment and more than 400 new jobs created in the past five years as a result of council employees travelling to other countries.
They argued that the Taxpayers’ Alliance can “count a cost but not recognise value for money”.
Coun Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “These figures reflect our city’s international reach with more than £500million of foreign investment and more than 4,000 new jobs in the last five years from international companies.
“The council also has a policy with flights of eight hours or more, such as to Japan, allowing for business class travel.
“This is based on the duty of care the city council has for its employees and members, the most advantageous cost and for anyone travelling to be in a position to carry out their duties effectively on arrival.
“In case anyone has forgotten, Sunderland has more than 26,202 jobs in 87 internationally-owned companies originating from 20 different countries.
“This includes 12 Japanese companies, who employ more than 11,335 staff.
“Once again, the alliance can count a cost but not recognise value for money.”
A spokesman for the Taxpayers’ Alliance said: “While local authorities have seen a reduction in central government grants since 2010, council tax has risen by 57% in real terms over the last 20 years in England.
“Unitary authorities in England and Wales that have different responsibilities, such as child protection, may have to undertake foreign travel as part of this.
“There is however no justification for councils flying in business or first class.”
“These figures reflect our city’s international reach” – COUN GRAEME MILLER