Harrogate trip ‘was not a jolly’

COUNCIL leader Howard Sykes insists an £8,362 trip to the Local Government Association conference was not a “jolly”.

Saddleworth Parish Councillor Ken Hulme submitted a question to Oldham Council’s cabinet asking why the council sent 11 representatives, twice as many people as any other authority, to the three-day event in Harrogate.

He asked: “As the authority with the highest council tax in Greater Manchester, how does Oldham Council justify sending so many representatives to this event, when other authorities clearly felt such expenditure was not justified?” Councillor Hulme did not attend the meeting to ask his question, but Councillor Sykes has provided a written response.

He revealed the £8,362 bill included hotel costs for 10 people of £2,170, and said that the conference had been vitally important.

He added: “The conference this year gave us an opportunity to listen to, and be involved in, discussions about the challenges facing local government and the wider public sector.

“I make no apologies for maximising the opportunities for both staff and members with this year’s conference being in Harrogate. It is cost effective and will result in direct benefits for our citizens.

“I can assure you that the Oldham team worked hard at the conference and I reject the inference of your question that this is some sort of jolly — it was far from it I assure you.”

He said the council had been criticised in the past for being too insular and not learning from others, which had led to difficulties in budgets and services. And all three political parties needed to be involved to create cross-party working.

Thirteen people actually attended some or part of the conference. Dr Eileen Bentley and a colleague attended as she was on the shortlist for the Council Worker of the Year presentation.

One colleague attended at the invitation of the LGA to chair a session at no cost to the council.

Councillor Sykes criticised Councillor Hulme’s no show, questioning how much officer and member time and council tax payer’s money had been wasted in researching and preparing the response.