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Posted: Mon 30th Dec 2024
Our Freedom of Information request was aimed at discovering if Welsh councils spent money on overseas trips for senior officers and elected members – and if so, what was it for. The responses reveal a mixed picture, with the majority of councils reporting no expenditure, while a few detailed costs associated with international visits.
Of the 22 councils contacted, the majority—such as Wrexham, Vale of Glamorgan, Powys, Anglesey, Newport, and Monmouthshire—confirmed they had not spent any money on overseas trips for their senior officers or elected members during the period in question. Some councils, such as Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend, and Blaenau Gwent, also reported zero expenditure, while others, including Carmarthenshire and Caerphilly, stated explicitly that no such trips had taken place.
Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council accounted for the most significant expenditure among responding councils. The council disclosed several trips, including visits to France, Norway, and Sweden, as well as travel to Belfast.
- France (March 2023): Costs included £135 for pre-flight accommodation, £121.40 for airport parking, £252.10 for flights to Marseille, and £500.72 for accommodation, totalling £1,009.22. The trip aimed to explore the potential of floating wind technology to revitalise port infrastructure and create supply chain opportunities.
- Norway (September 2023): The purpose was to observe an operational floating offshore wind demonstrator. Expenses included £93.25 for airport parking, £623.96 for flights, and £636.67 for accommodation, amounting to £1,353.88.
- Sweden (October 2023): A Freeport-related meeting incurred costs of £47.48 for parking and £437.76 for accommodation.
- Belfast (September 2023): Participation in an APSE Conference cost £532.46, covering flights and accommodation.
Swansea Council noted a 2023 trip by the Lord Mayor to Mannheim, Germany, for the International Conference of Twin Cities. However, all costs were covered by Mannheim Council, and no expenses were incurred by Swansea Council.
Pembrokeshire County Council reported a trip to Ireland involving a senior officer but indicated uncertainty about whether this qualified as “overseas.”
Not all councils were able to provide clear answers. Gwynedd and Cardiff councils stated they did not understand the request which was standard to all 22 councils, while Ceredigion County Council did not respond.
The responses highlight a strong trend of minimal spending on international travel across Welsh councils, perhaps indicating a focus on domestic priorities.
Wrexham.com readers will recall how Wrexham Council Chief Exec Ian Bancroft paid a flying visit to Syracuse, something that some councillors were unhappy with, however it was stressed that was out of his own personal time and at no cost to the council. A year later, the Allyn family with strong links to Syracuse are now key partners not just in Wrexham AFC but also Wrexham Lager, and appear to be looking to invest a substantial sum in the future of the Wrexham.
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