Question from Ian Chittenden to 22 July Full Council Meeting: Open Golf [Updated with answer]

4.18.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 16th Jul 2010

Question by Mr I Chittenden to the Cabinet Member for Communities:

Would the Cabinet Member for Communities please provide the total costs and an individual breakdown for each of the 6 people (identifying Member and KCC Officers) who travelled to the Open Golf Championship at St Andrews including:

• Air travel

• Transport or mileage to / from Gatwick

• Transport & accommodation in Scotland

• Subsistence (i.e. meals, refreshments etc)

• All other costs (incl. cost of officer hours)

Answer given at Full Council meeting, 22 July:

"The Open Golf Championship coming to Sandwich next year is a major event for the County Council. It is coming two years earlier than usual due very largely to the efforts made by the County Council and Dover District Council to persuade the Royal & Ancient to bring forward the date on account of the Olympics in 2012. The Open is expected to generate approximately £70m worth of inward investment to the County and it is absolutely critical that we make a real success of the Championship and at the same time maximise the benefit to Kent of this opportunity. The visit to St. Andrews last week was entirely in pursuit of these two objectives.

"Of the total of five people attended St Andrews; one Member and two Officers from KCC; one Member and one Officer from Dover District Council.

"The visit was undertaken at the request of, and as guests of, the Royal & Ancient. The travel and accommodation related expenses for the party were paid from the project budget which is provided by local authority partners for this work and the element for KCC representatives was as follows:

Air travel via Easyjet: £341

Transport to and from Gatwick: £50

Transport and Accommodation in Scotland

Transport in Scotland: £105

Accommodation in Scotland: £660

Meals: £123

"There were no other officer costs. Officers worked their normal hours including significant unpaid overtime."