Midlands councils' spending on flights revealed

The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) can today reveal the cost of flights by local authorities in the Midlands over the last two years. Our findings include business class and premium air travel and show that 48 councils in the region have continued to spend on flights despite tighter budgets. The 29 councils who did not spend any money on flights should be commended for using taxpayers' money responsibly.

To read the full report click here

For the complete press release click here

The key findings of this report are:

• 48 councils across the Midlands spent a combined total of at least £275,000 on flights between April 2009 and March 2011. Unfortunately Birmingham City Council was unable to provide the requested information, so the true figure is almost certainly higher


• 29 councils did not spend any money at all on flights over the period


• Lincolnshire County Council spent more than £42,000 on flights, making them the highest spending council in the region


• Redditch Borough Council spent more than £900 to send two employees to Brussels on a premium economy flight, whereas the same trip only cost Telford and Wrekin Council £400


• Wolverhampton Council spent more than £7,100 on business class flights to Dubai and Bangalore in 2010-11.


• Lincolnshire Council spent more than £27,000 on 12 trips to the USA and Canada, some of which were on BA ‘World Traveller Plus’ and business class. They also spent £4,000 on a business class flight to Tokyo


• Nottingham Council spent almost £2,000 on a trip to Shanghai in China


• Rutland Council spent more than £10,000 on flights to Accra in Ghana

To read the full report click here

For the complete press release click here

Matthew Sinclair, Director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:

"It is shocking that some council staff have been jetting around at taxpayers' expense. These local authorities need to find millions in savings in the coming years and with modern technology like video conferencing they needn't spend large sums of taxpayers' money on plane tickets. It is great that 29 authorities in the Midlands were prudent and didn't spend a penny of taxpayers' money on flights. However, others could cut back, especially those who have been enjoying the perks of business class at taxpayers' expense."

The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) can today reveal the cost of flights by local authorities in the Midlands over the last two years. Our findings include business class and premium air travel and show that 48 councils in the region have continued to spend on flights despite tighter budgets. The 29 councils who did not spend any money on flights should be commended for using taxpayers' money responsibly.

To read the full report click here

For the complete press release click here

The key findings of this report are:

• 48 councils across the Midlands spent a combined total of at least £275,000 on flights between April 2009 and March 2011. Unfortunately Birmingham City Council was unable to provide the requested information, so the true figure is almost certainly higher


• 29 councils did not spend any money at all on flights over the period


• Lincolnshire County Council spent more than £42,000 on flights, making them the highest spending council in the region


• Redditch Borough Council spent more than £900 to send two employees to Brussels on a premium economy flight, whereas the same trip only cost Telford and Wrekin Council £400


• Wolverhampton Council spent more than £7,100 on business class flights to Dubai and Bangalore in 2010-11.


• Lincolnshire Council spent more than £27,000 on 12 trips to the USA and Canada, some of which were on BA ‘World Traveller Plus’ and business class. They also spent £4,000 on a business class flight to Tokyo


• Nottingham Council spent almost £2,000 on a trip to Shanghai in China


• Rutland Council spent more than £10,000 on flights to Accra in Ghana

To read the full report click here

For the complete press release click here

Matthew Sinclair, Director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:

"It is shocking that some council staff have been jetting around at taxpayers' expense. These local authorities need to find millions in savings in the coming years and with modern technology like video conferencing they needn't spend large sums of taxpayers' money on plane tickets. It is great that 29 authorities in the Midlands were prudent and didn't spend a penny of taxpayers' money on flights. However, others could cut back, especially those who have been enjoying the perks of business class at taxpayers' expense."