Labour Councillors Open Cannes Of Worms

Hounslow Leader attends international property conference in the South of France

Council tax payers in Hounslow will be at the receiving end of a whopping expenses bill when Conservative council leader Peter Thompson and cabinet member Barbara Reid return from a three day trip to the South of France, Labour have revealed.

At £1,500 a head just to get in to MIPIM – an annual conference of property developers staged in the same location as the renowned Cannes Film Festival – councillors Thompson and Reid, along with a council officer, have already clocked up a big bill before they even touch down. Hotel, restaurant and entertainment costs will add to the bill that council tax payers will pick up claim Labour leaders who reacted angrily to the revelations and demanded answers.

MIPIM is held annually in Cannes and, their website promises seminars on ‘Russian Real Estate Markets’ and ‘New Horizons for the Gulf’.

“The Conservative Party nationally preach prudence and spending restraints – but at home it’s a completely different story” said Labour leader Jagdish Sharma. "At a time when residents are tightening their belts, I am sure that there are better things to spend council tax money on. Just the registration fee costs well over £1000 for each person there. Add flights, hotels and food and the cost will be horrendous”.

Deputy leader Ruth Cadbury added “Perhaps the Tories should worry about things a little closer to home. They have failed to improve either Hounslow or Brentford town centre in three years and now Chiswick is suffering. Residents will want to know why they are enjoying themselves in the sunshine whilst council tax payers are fearing for their jobs."

Councillor Peter Thompson dismissed Labour's concerns saying, "As a council we are committed to regenerating our town centres after years of Labour neglect. This conference is an excellent oportunity for us to meet the people who can help us make our vision a reality."

He continued, "We are part of a major west London delegation which is in turn part of an impressive London presence led by Boris Johnson. We have been able to meet with major developers, leading civil servants and local authorities of all political parties. In particular I am delighted to have able to support Brentford Football Club in their bid to create a new stadium and community hub. This is of course funded by taxpayers money but I am certain that its money well spent.

"Labour in Hounslow have had an awful few weeks when their service cutting budget plans were defeated, when we gained Beacon Status for our work in community cohension and when we became a 4 star excellent council according to the governments own Audit Commission! I would simply put the question to them - why did they have so litle ambition for Hounslow that they never bothered themselves to leave the Civic Centre and put Hounslow on the map!"

As well as conferences on property, there are parties, including an opening Cocktail Party at the famous Carlton Hotel where delegates are told to “expect glamour and professional networking opportunities galore”.

Billed as the world’s premier real estate summit, MIPIM 'draws upon its unique international coverage and reputation to bring together the most influential decision-makers in the market, offering them access to the largest available showcase of development projects'.

March 12, 2009