BCP Council has spent thousands of pounds on flights but has been unable to say where to or why.

Figures obtained through a Daily Echo Freedom of Information request reveal that the council has spent £16,792 on flights since its formation in April 2019. 

The Echo asked why these trips were made, where to, where from, and who was travelling.

Bournemouth Echo: BCP Council said it will look for the recordsBCP Council said it will look for the records (Image: Echo)

However, a council information officer said that “records for travel are not kept to that level of detail”. 

Our FOI request revealed that the council spent £12,342 with Flybe, £4,012 with Easyjet and £437 on Ryanair flights. 

Jonathan Eida, a researcher at the TaxPayers' Alliance, which campaigns for lower taxes, said: “Council taxpayers will rightly ask whether these flights of fancy represent value for money.” 

BCP Council has since vowed to investigate and answer the questions posed to it, although this will take time, it says. 

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Cllr Andy Martin, BCP Council portfolio holder for customer, communications and culture said: “We are currently working to examine the full records of flights taken since April 2019, and intend to share any further information as soon as it is available.   

“Cost and practicality are taken into consideration when booking flights. The three airlines we have used are all classed as budget airlines and alternative means of transport are used wherever possible.” 

Bournemouth Echo: FlybeFlybe

As reported by the Echo in August, Dorset Police spent more than £12,000 flying staff, including officers and senior personnel, across the country since July 2021. 

Eight of the 66 flights included overseas travel, however, police did not reveal if tickets were bought in economy or business. 

The information was based on an FOI published in a county force disclosure log.

Read more: New plane lands at Bournemouth Airport as busy summer begins

All flights booked by BCP Council will be economy, due to all airlines listed being budget airlines. 

A spokesman for Dorset Police previously said officers and staff fly for a range of reasons, including supporting ongoing investigations, attending conferences and other national meetings and events and training. 

Earlier this year, a FOI revealed a councillor in Reading spent £2,100 on expenses for a flight to Pennsylvania, USA.