Council chiefs jet off to Riviera; Critics slam bosses' conference in sun.Byline: By PETER YOUNG Political Editor COUNCIL bosses are jetting off to the French Riviera to showcase the North East to investors amid controversy over whether taxpayers are getting value for money. Representatives of all five Tyne & Wear councils will join the regional development agency One NorthEast and private sector companies at a four-day conference in Cannes later this month. The aim is to attract jobs and investment, but a row has broken out in Newcastle after critics questioned the trip. Matthew Elliott This article is about the Australian cricketer. For other uses, see Matthew Elliott (disambiguation). Matthew Thomas Gray Elliott (born September 28, 1971 in Chelsea, Melbourne, Victoria) is an Australian cricketer. , chief executive of the Tax Payers' Alliance, said: "People pay their hard-earned money in council tax for the bins to be collected on time and for good policing cover, not for council officials to swan off to Cannes. "Councils should be focusing on getting essential services right, not hobnobbing with property developers." The annual Mipim event is the biggest of its kind for regeneration and property development, with nearly 50,000 people expected. Many UK cities and towns will be represented, including Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunder-land, North Tyneside North Tyneside is a metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear in the North East of England. Its seat is at the Town Hall, Wallsend. Created in 1974, the borough lies within the historic county boundaries of Northumberland. , and South Tyneside South Tyneside is a metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear in North East England. It is bordered by four other boroughs - Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead to the west, Sunderland in the south, and North Tyneside to the north. . Newcastle Council is sending a five-strong delegation at a cost of pounds 25,000, including chief executive Ian Stratford and Lib Dem LIB DEM Liberal Democrat(s) (UK political party) leader Coun John Shipley John Shipley (born 1960?) is an English professional poker player from Solihull, West Midlands. Amongst his money finishes at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) are a 7th place finish in the 2002 $10,000 no limit hold'em main event, where he earned $125,000. . The council has been going to Mipim for several years and it is claimed that the 2005 event led to a pounds 44m scheme to build offices and workshops in Scotswood, Newburn, Elswick and Walker. Coun Nick Forbes, leader of the council's opposition Labour group, said: "It's hard to understand why the council needed to go to the South of France South of France south n the South of France → le Sud de la France, le Midi to clinch a deal. "It's beyond me why so many people from Newcastle need to attend. It sounds like a nice jolly in the sun. If there is an argument that the North East should be represented then the regional development agency is the obvious choice." Jason Smith Jason Smith is the name of:
Coun Shipley said: "I'm convinced that Mipim provides value for money. I will be there for two days, selling the city to investors. "Northern Rock has taught us that we can't afford to sit back." Newcastle will have a stand at the exhibition with Gateshead Council, which is sending four people, including chief executive Roger Kelly and Labour leader Coun Mick Henry. The total cost of the joint venture is pounds 80,000. Each council is paying pounds 25,000, with the rest coming through sponsorship. The event will be used to promote development sites at Science Central, East Pilgrim Street, the Stephenson Quarter in Newcastle, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead town centre and the Baltic Business Quarter. Derek Quinn, Gateshead Council's director of development and enterprise, said: "If we want to get multinational companies investing, we will not get it by sitting and waiting." North Tyneside Council is sending three officers, including chief executive Andrew Kerr, at a cost of pounds 3,000. A spokesman said: "North Tyneside is a vibrant, modern borough with an excellent track record for inward investment Inward investment is the injection of money from an external source into a region, in order to purchase capital goods for a branch of a corporation to locate or develop its presence in the region. . "It is in the interests of our residents that we showcase the opportunities we have." South Tyneside Council is sending two officers at a cost of pounds 3,000 for three days, which will come from the Government-funded Local Enterprise Growth Initiative. One aim is to secure investment for the pounds 200m Riverside regeneration project. "This is a significant opportunity to help deliver more jobs and investment," says the council One NorthEast has a stand and is sending four people at a cost of pounds 25,000. Ed Rowley, acting director of regeneration, said: "This gives the region the best possible platform to showcase its opportunities. "The region's presence helps North East companies promote themselves on the international stage and it is important we have a strong presence." Two of the region's biggest local authorities, Northumberland and Durham, are not sending anybody to the event. Andrew Dixon, chief executive of the Newcastle-Gateshead Initiative, said: "Mipim presents an excellent opportunity to profile the scale of the development planned in Newcastle and Gateshead." CAPTION(S): DELEGATION: From left, Roger Kelly, Coun Mick Henry, Andrew Kerr, Ian Stratford and Coun John Shipley are set to go on the trip to Cannes, France, pictured below VIEWS: Coun Nick Forbes |
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