Bury Council Justifies £12,000 Conference Cost in Cannes

Bury Council has defended its decision to spend £12,000 on sending an officer to the MIPIM real estate conference in Cannes, held in March 2023. This annual event, which stands for The International Market for Real Estate Professionals, attracts developers from around the world to promote investment opportunities in their regions. Representatives from all ten Greater Manchester councils attended this year’s conference, highlighting the collective interest in attracting global investment.

The figure of £12,000 reported by Bury Council emerged following freedom of information requests, prompting scrutiny of the costs associated with public spending. The council explained that the decision to send a delegate was made late and at the request of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). This request aimed to ensure that the entirety of Greater Manchester was represented at a pivotal event for economic development.

£9,000 of the total cost covered admission fees and a package fee paid to Marketing Manchester, which included various promotional activities and networking events. Bury Council contended that the comparability of costs among different councils could be misleading, as some may have reported only travel and accommodation expenses without including similar promotional fees.

The remaining costs included economy class flights with EasyJet and accommodation expenses. According to the council, the delegate’s subsistence claim during the conference was under £20 per day. A spokesperson emphasized the importance of the conference, stating, “This conference enabled us to engage with a variety of development, funding, and consultancy stakeholders from a worldwide audience.”

Investment Opportunities Highlighted

Bury Council noted that the participation in MIPIM was crucial for showcasing local regeneration projects, including the £1 billion Northern Gateway development, which spans Bury, Rochdale, and Oldham. This initiative is expected to create approximately 20,000 jobs and drive significant economic benefits for the region.

The council’s statement highlighted that the presence of all ten Greater Manchester authorities at this year’s conference reflected the region’s growing international reputation. “We believe this is the first year that all ten Greater Manchester authorities attended at the same time,” the spokesperson added. “This reflects the major investment projects taking place across the area.”

With over £250 million in investment tied to various regeneration schemes, Bury Council is keen to demonstrate the value of its participation in such events. The council expressed confidence that the costs incurred would be “repaid many times over” through the subsequent economic and employment benefits secured for the borough.

As of the time of publication, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority had not issued a comment regarding the council’s expenditure.