Kent County Council spent nearly £23,000 on flights for official business in three years, a survey has found.

Of 58 flights, 57 were to destinations in Europe, according to data compiled by the Taxpayers’ Alliance which covered a three-year period between 2015 and 2018.

KCC emerged as the top authority in the south east for spending on flights but was significantly lower than many other counties outside the south east.

None of the councils were asked for the reasons for travelling.

KCC said in a statement: “The Taxpayers Alliance’s own statistics show that across the UK, 45 other local authorities spent more on flights that those incurred by KCC. In fact, KCC’s expenditure was less than the average across the UK, despite the size of this authority. KCC is transparent in its spending on such items and all the information is freely available, without the need for a Freedom of Information request, on our website for anyone to inspect at any time, not just when the TPA issues a press release on that topic."

'KCC’s expenditure was less than the average across the UK' - council statement on flights

“The latest available six-month figures show nine flights at a total cost to KCC of £829.82. As an example, the most expensive of these was the cost of sending a project manager, staff and a care home representative to Utrecht in the Netherlands, to learn about new strategies for transforming integrated care in the community.”

Norfolk County Council spend £119,000 over the same period and Cardiff City Council spent nearly £174,000.

Among the county’s districts and boroughs, Gravesham council emerged as the highest spending authority, with £10,840 on 12 flights to destinations in Europe and four outside Europe over the same period.

It is thought that these costs were associated with a trip by officers and councillors to the US to research theme parks in Florida in 2014.

At the time, the trip by nine councillors and officers was defended as necessary to prepare for the £2bn Paramount theme park in Swanscombe, Kent.

The council also said that while it had to pay for the tickets, the costs were reimbursed by the developers.

The next highest spender was Medway council, with £775 spent on four flights to Europe. Canterbury city council spent £462 over the period and Dover £286.48.

Seven councils recorded no expenditure on flights: Maidstone, Swale, Shepway, Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Malling. Thanet council did not respond.

John O'Conell, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “These local authorities need to find millions in savings in the coming years and with modern technology like video conferencing they needn't spend large sums of taxpayers' money on plane tickets."