Council accused; District Auditor queries CIA bill.

Byline: Phillip Nifield Political Editor

CARDIFF council has been accused by the District Auditor of acting unlawfully after subsidising the Labour Party Spring Conference in Cardiff to the tune of more than pounds 100,000.

Paul Griffiths claims the council, which paid the bill for the hire of the Cardiff International Arena, breached the Local Government Act of 1986.

``It appears that the council subvented (subsidised) the Labour Party Spring Conference 2002 to the tune of pounds 109,500 which covers venue hire and street dressing. In my view, the expenditure on subventing the conference is unlawful,'' he told the council in a letter leaked to the Echo.

``Even if it is accepted that some conferences could be seen as publicity, I do not believe that a party political conference can fall within the definition of publicity, as it is not open to the public at large. It is essentially a private conference, which is extensively reported by the media.''

Mr Griffiths has now asked for a meeting with council executives over the issue.

Cardiff council agreed to support the conference as part of its efforts to attract the main autumn Labour conference to the capital.

Council leader Russell Goodway said: ``We have supported several party political conferences in the past and so have other councils in England and Wales in cities like Blackpool and Brighton.

``It is quite surprising that an issue should be made of this.

``It is disconcerting to local government generally that processes that have been continuing for a considerable time are now being questioned.''