The Bristol Blogger

More news on the the emerging expenses scandal engulfing the South West Regional Development Agency.

Freedom of Information requests viewed by The Blogger do indeed confirm that the quango spent £61,000 on a merry little all expenses paid jaunt to Cannes last March.

And we learn that for our money those grafters from your local regional quango – between urgent bouts of yacht-bound champagne quaffing and lobster guzzling – managed to “host two events” at the MIPIM and that “press briefings were held with key sector press covering the strengths of the region”.

So in other words, the SWRDA managed to host a couple of cheese ‘n’ wine does and natter with a few bored journalists in Cannes, which along with hotel bills and travel expenses they brought to you, dear taxpayer, at the knock down price of just £61k!

And it doesn’t end there. Oh no. Extending the seafood theme and perhaps taking the idea of a prawn cocktail offensive a little too far, we also find the quangocrats attending the European Seafood Exposition for two days in May 2006. They don’t bother telling us what urgent business they got up to but rest easy as they only spent £31k on this little junket.

Proximity to food certainly appears to be a strength of the region’s quangocrats because March this year found the development agency pitching up for a day at the Exeter Food and Drink Festival where £25k went on what they describe as a conference.

And after all this hard work on our behalf, what your roving quangocrat about Europe really needs is some rest and relaxation and time to talk though their experiences with all their colleagues isn’t it?

Fear not! The SWRDA had it covered. A staff awayday on the 17-18 May 2006 at Center Parks, Longleat – no doubt a much needed change from those classy but oppressive luxury offices at Temple Quay – cost us another £61k.

Then there’s the cost of their AGM. Or rather two AGMs. One in Plymouth and one in Bristol. Both in luxury hotels and coming in at just £6k each for a day.

Phew. Our money’s certainly safe in their hands . . .

COMING SOON: £100 tax free every time they walk out the door – the travel expense junkies running the SWRDA.

Big shout goes out tonight to our old friends at the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA). Located in rather charming dockside offices at Temple Quay, the wealthy unelected regional quango with the transparent Merchant Venturer connections has found a brilliant new way to spend our hard earned tax.

The Blogger learns that the quango has admitted today to spending over £61,000 of taxpayers’ money attending MIPIM.

And what the fuck is that you ask? Well, it says here, “Functioning as a global market place, MIPIM provides a unique opportunity for industry decision-makers to meet, develop long-term relationships and showcase their latest development projects.”

Although Clare Barrett, managing editor of Property Week magazine, has a slightly different take on it. “It’s basically a four-day party with loads of lobster and champagne on yachts,” she helpfully explains.

Oh – and also – this £15k a day courtesy-of-the-tax-payer shindig takes place at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes. That’s the same place that they hold that notoriously downmarket film festival . . .

Nice work if you can get it!