Birmingham City Council has spent over £20,000 on overseas travel since October

Birmingham City Council has spent over £20,000 on overseas travel in the last five months – including New York, Rio, Monaco and Vienna. According to a report, during the three-month period, fourteen visits were undertaken by officers and members.

The report, published by the council, shows over half of the total was spent on a trip to New York which included over £5k on flights and £7k spent on accommodation. Other trips included a week in Rio De Janeiro totalling £2.5k, four days in Monaco, three days in Vienna and a two-day trip to Warsaw.

In total £28,753 has been spent by the council in 2022 across 30 separate trips. The amount eclipses totals from the previous two years of £23,388 in 2021 and £0 in 2020 respectively- the latter because of restricted travel during the Covid pandemic.

The council says the trip to New York, which was made by a team including The Lord Mayor, aimed to promote the University of Birmingham on the international stage, as well as promote business and investment opportunities for Birmingham.

The council says trips like these are key for networking and attracting investment to the city. Birmingham is also involved in a number of partnership city schemes such as the ones held with Chicago, Frankfurt, Guangzhou, Johannesburg, Leipzig, Lyon and Milan.

Statement from council representative

In the report, a council representative said: “The Council Business Management Committee has responsibility for the oversight of arrangements for foreign travel undertaken by members and officers of the city council. Under the new administration, the authorisation of foreign travel has been delegated to strategic directors and the chief executive or nominee.

“In line with established practice, the attached schedule of visits are grouped to reflect the main activity areas identified within the council’s current international activities.

“Those activities include civic-related visits, networking or policy meetings where we seek to further Birmingham’s interests or for projects and professional meetings where Birmingham participates in collaborative, practical or funding initiatives with benefits to Birmingham, or where joint work is undertaken through professional bodies.”