Whilst international banks RBS and Merrill Lynch Bank of America pull the plug on their MIPIM participation and sponsorship, Cornwall’s CEO Kate Kennally decides it's a good investment to travel to Cannes for an event that the national press have described in rather unflattering terms: beer and champagne, parties on super yachts and prostitutes in posh hotel lobbies, among others. For six people - mainly council staff - to spend nearly £50,000 on what many will perceive as a jolly in the sun by most, seems a serious error of judgement by our new CEO (formerly at Barnet council in London), at a time of continued government austerity and record homelessness and food banks in Cornwall. One FB site states: NAMES REVEALED OF THOSE WHO TOOK PART IN £46,000 TRIP TO CANNES AT CORNWALL TAXPAYERS EXPENSE - 2 In this year when all those in Cornwall will be paying 5% more tax for reduced services, money seems no object for these unelected Council officials. Live in Cornwall? This is YOUR money! Secondly, John Betty, unelected Chief Executive of Infrastructure for the Council found it necessary that he should attend this trip. The taxpayers of Cornwall paid the best part of £8,000 for him to attend as well. John Betty, is paid an unbelievable salary for Cornwall at £140,000 a year, only slightly less than the Prime Minister of Great Britain. Teresa May is paid £149,950 a year as Prime Minister. Council Cannes Trip: Waste of public money or Investment in the Tory future? https://cornishstuff.com/2018/03/15/council-cannes-trip-waste-of-public-money-or-investment-in-the-tory-future/ How much is this one costing? Cornwall Council sends a team to Cannes “sex and sleaze” conference https://cornwallreports.co.uk/how-much-is-this-one-costing-cornwall-council-sends-a-team-to-cannes-sex-and-sleaze-conference/ The official line from the council: “Message to Members Earlier this week I committed to providing you with more information about MIPIM and the outcomes. MIPIM is the global leading property and real estate conference, and was attended by senior leaders from local authorities of all political persuasions, as well as by central government agencies who invested heavily in a strong UK presence. If we are serious about the future of Cornwall and securing inward investment, we need to attend events like these or pass up the opportunity to compete for millions of pounds of inward investment. It is my personal view that we cannot afford to be passive, sit back and wait for investors to come to us. At the same time, it is also right for all of us to expect value for money from the costs of attending. Cornwall Council was invited to speak at the event by the Department of International Trade (DIT) as part of the UK Government’s programme of talks, debates and panel sessions featuring leading figures from the private sector and senior government officials, including contributions from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Department for Transport and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Chief Executive Kate Kennally was invited to speak by the Government’s Department of International Trade on the infrastructure and support structures required to accelerate regional growth, alongside Sir Richard Leese, the Leader of Manchester City Council; Marvin Rees, the Mayor of Bristol; and Karen Campbell the Commercial Director for HS2 amongst others. Led by the Cornwall Development Company in partnership with Cornwall Council and Invest in Cornwall, the delegation had a productive four day visit, with over 65 engagements attended. The Cornwall delegation held meetings with investors, developers and property industry experts including RSBGi, Winckworth Sherwood, Kier Asset Management, Keystone Law, Womble Bond Dickinson, Kajima Partnerships, LocatED, Morgan Sindall Group, MACE, Jerde, Ryder Architects, Research Consultants International, RCKa Architects, Optimise, Solarplicity, Urban Splash, Staffordshire University, OCO Global, Inside Housing, PRP Architects, Construction News, Savills, Willmott Dixon, Burrington Estates, MACE, Homes England, Commercial Estates Management, Heathrow Airport Limited and Balfour Beatty. The delegation also met Sir Edward Lister, Chairman of Homes England; attended an event hosted by Homes England; and participated in a public sector roundtable on building rented homes to discuss collaboration with the private sector to deliver more housing. It also attended the FDI European Cities & Regions of the Future Awards since Cornwall & IOS are runners up in LEPs Best for Cost Effectiveness Category. It hosted three events to launch the Cornwall Investment Fund, worth up to £600m, as well as promote specific investment opportunities in infrastructure, including the Cornwall Enterprise Zones, West Carclaze Garden Village, Housing and many others. With over 130 local authorities1i attending, the delegation were able to learn from other local authorities how they have successfully attracted inward investment. Meetings also took place with the new elected Mayors of the West of England and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to look at opportunities for greater collaboration with Cornwall to strengthen our relationship with Government. Funded through the Council via the CDC, I am advised the costs were: Accommodation / meeting space £23,883 Tickets to MIPIM £10,350 Design and marketing costs £5,060 Travel £3,515.88 Hosting meetings £3,482.25 Sundries £315.26 Total £46,606.39 There is no doubt that this is a lot of money but to properly showcase Cornwall to the world this is a price worth paying to get the investment in Cornwall. As previously advised, the conference was attended by:  Kate Kennally, Chief Executive, Cornwall Council  John Betty, Strategic Director of Economic Growth and Development, Cornwall Council  3 staff from Cornwall Development Company / Invest in Cornwall  James Staughton, CEO of St Austell Brewery and Chairman of Cornwall Place Board, who provided his time pro bono Allegations by some media outlets that those attending would take part in inappropriate activities are inappropriate and mischief making. All Council employees are bound by a Code of Conduct, and any breach of this or other Council policies could result in disciplinary action or instant dismissal. As many of you will know from your experience as business or community leaders, it can be some time before networking opportunities deliver tangible outcomes, but I commit to reporting back to you any further outcomes. Already there are contacts being followed up for inward investment into Cornwall including from a German investment fund which was set up by the German Government to help with the ending of the mining industry in the Ruhr and an American investor who is interested in new models of housing for older people. We have received a positive response from the industry to our ambitions in Cornwall, with pro bono offers from leading industry experts to help us develop our plans further. Finally, the Chairman of Homes England has committed to coming to Cornwall together with his Leadership Team, to work with us to help fund the infrastructure that is needed to help ensure that we can then deliver more affordable housing for the people of Cornwall. I trust this information is helpful.” One town councillor reacted angrily to the news: Redruth 18th March, 2018 To: Cornwall Councillors Dear Colleagues These arrived in my 'in box' and I read it with increasing anger. Council Cannes Trip: Waste of public money or Investment in the Tory future? https://cornishstuff.com/2018/03/15/council-cannes-trip-waste-of-public-money-or-investment-in-the-tory-future/ How much is this one costing? Cornwall Council sends a team to Cannes “sex and sleaze” conference https://cornwallreports.co.uk/how-much-is-this-one-costing-cornwall-council-sends-a-team-to-cannes-sex-and-sleaze-conference/ If these articles are true, then I am afraid that something very wrong is going on inside Cornwall Council. When I see the salaries these employees are paid, I am staggered. That they undertake this trip at our expense as tax payers when we have just received increased Council Tax demands (which I am content to pay for the good of our community) makes me feel nothing but disgust. As a retired police officer, I feel sometimes that we are seeing blatant criminal actions occur before our very eyes. This is a disgraceful and yes, I say it, criminal waste of hard earned tax payer pounds and as one who has no political ambition at all, I believe an open enquiry into this jaunt and general Council spending is needed. If these reports are true, then everything about this visit and those who went is so very wrong at every level and they should be made to repay the cost of the trip from their own salaries forthwith. Furthermore, the individual who authorised it should do the honourable thing and fall upon his or her sword. I am extremely angry and on this occasion I am not alone. And to think that the unelected Boundary Commission is set to reduce Cornwall Councillors even more with the expectation that Town and Parish Councillors who are in receipt of damn all will some how pick up the slack and offer cut price democratic oversight. An insult! Sincerely Another commentator says: Cornwall Council Cannes trip costs - At 17:41 on Friday evening we received a statement from Adam Paynter. One whopping bill – £46,606.39 for five officers and one businessman to attend a few days at a conference in Cannes. £23,883 on accommodation and meeting space (how is that even possible?!) £10,350 on tickets £5,060 on design and marketing costs (what were the business cards made of, solid gold?) £3515.88 on travel £3482.25 on hosting meetings (why didn’t this come out of the ‘meeting space budget?) £315.26 on sundries (dare I ask?)